KwaMashu-born, Grammy award winning artist, Zakes Bantwini hosted a masterclass at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Howard College campus. He shared how his brainchild, Abantu, is a show created to address issues of transformation and bridge the racial divides that still exist in South Africa 29 years after democracy.
Bantwini, 43, is a South African singer, record producer and businessman. In April 2011, his single Clap Your Hands was released, featuring Xolani Sithole, a multi-talented singer and an anointed worshipper from KZN. Mr Bantwini has also worked with musician Black Coffee, with whom he collaborated on the song Juju.
Speaking about racial divides and transformation, Bantwini said we need to learn about each other and grow to like one another.
“We are unable to have one common goal as a country because we do not socialise together. The creation of Abantu is an opportunity for us to gather as one, learn about each other, dance together and grow to like one another because that is the only time, we will be able to transform,” he said.
Abantu, a show for South Africans by South Africans, specifically targeted universities around the country during its promotional leg of the tour, because Bantwini believes the future of the country belongs to students. He touches on the country’s issues of load shedding, gender-based violence, financial exclusion at higher education institutions and unemployment – and implored South Africans to come together as one. He noted the history of musicians and the role they played in achieving South Africa’s democracy – referring to the legendary Miriam Makeba who used her voice to impact change.
“We should be challenging the narrative of musicians as individuals. The country’s solutions would come from the musician’s ability to bring people together because politicians will not lead us to greener pastures. The citizens of the country with a common goal, will make the much-needed changes,” he said.
Bantwini reflected on South Africa’s past, when former President Nelson Mandela used sport to unite the country through two common goals namely, peace and the “rainbow nation”. He quoted the late statesman, saying: “Right now, we have no common goal as a country, which is why there are challenges around transformation.”
Bantwini acknowledged his former lecturers, Demi Fernandez and Debbie Mari for the role they played in his career. He also thanked the institution for hosting him and students and staff for attending. Music lecturer, Dr Nduduzo Makhathini, said Bantwini had inspired the audience to look at music and musicians differently in society.
Bantwini attended Shayamoya Junior Primary School and matriculated from Nqabakazulu High School. At the age of 14 he had his first child. Despite the challenges of being a teenage father, he matriculated and went onto study music at the then Natal Technikon (now Durban University of Technology). This is also where he formed his own record label, Mayonie Productions, while he was completing his final year.
