By Siziwe January
Three South African musos, Zakes Bantwini, Nomcebo Nothule Zikode and Wouter Kellerman have shaken the portlets of the international music scene by bagging the coveted Grammy Awards.
An elated Zakes Bantwini, born Zakhele Madida said, “ just want to say, we are coming from Africa, South Africa. And this moment right here to anybody who’s in Africa just proves and affirms that every dream is valid.”
Zakes Bantwini’s win comes just when he has announced hanging-up the mike. His contribution to music include genres in jazz, kwaito and dance music. His collaboration with both L’vovo and world renowned DJ Black Coffee, have set many a music clubs on fire.
Zikode whose runaway hit song “Jerusalema” became a tiktok sensation and had a hashtage #jerusalemaChallenge with over 100 million views, as well as flutist Killerman were equally elated.
This song, Jerusalema was popular at the time of the most trying times globally, the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Of the hit song Zikode reminisced: “during the time we were composing the song, I was in a better space, which I would credit to all the travelling I had been doing the past few months around the world. Having been exposed to different places, and countries, boosted the lyrics behind the song.”
This is Kellerman’s third Grammy Award making him the third only individual (Solo artist) in South African to win a Grammy Award, since Miriam Makeba was honoured by the Recording Academy in 1966 and Lebo Morake in 1994.
Kellerman career took off in the 80s and he has contributed immensely to South Africa’s instrumentalist genre. “It’s an amazing privilege. It’s my fourth nomination, but it never gets old, what makes this one even more special is that Zakes and Nomcebo are with me and it’s all South African,” the flutist said.
The Gramaphone awards commonly known as the Grammys are considered to be the most prestigious stage-honouring musicians. The awards were first held in 1959 marking this year’s the 65th edition.
This win is another proud moment for all South Africans and surely up and coming artists. Generally, local artists are continuing to make waves in the international stage, in their own way.