Grammy Award winning artist, Zakes Bantwini hosted a masterclass on UKZN’s Howard College campus where he shared how Abantu – his brainchild – is a show created to address issues of transformation and bridge the racial divides that still exist in South Africa.

‘We are unable to have one common goal as a country because we do not socialise together; hence the creation of Abantu which 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,’ Bantwini said.

In her welcome remarks, UKZN’s Dean and Head of the School of Arts, Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa, said it was a special day for the Discipline of Music, the School of Arts and the University of KwaZulu-Natal as she welcomed Bantwini “home” with a song titled: Kusekhaya La (this is home). Hlongwa challenged Bantwini and the Music discipline to be part of the project to rewrite the history of Mama Nokutela Mdima-Dube, the first wife of Dr John Langalibalele Dube as a woman who was a musician amongst her many other talents but was not celebrated in the music fraternity.

Abantu, a show for South Africans by South Africans, specifically targeted universities all around the country during its promotional leg of the tour, ‘because the future of the country belongs to you as students,’ said Bantwini.

Touching on the country’s issues of load shedding, gender-based violence, financial exclusion at Higher Education Institutions and unemployment, just to name a few, he 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 by referring to the legendary Miriam Makeba who used her voice to impact change.

Challenging the narrative of musicians as individuals who are not only in the business of entertainment, but the business influence, he said the country’s solutions would come from their (musicians) ability to bring people together because ‘politicians will not lead us to greener pastures, but citizens of the country with a common goal will.’

Bantwini reflected on South Africa’s past where former President Nelson Mandela used sport to unite the country through two common goals namely, peace and the “rainbow nation” and said, ‘Right now, we have no common goal as a country, which is why there are challenges around transformation.’

A Q&A session was conducted where Bantwini encouraged students to pursue music wholeheartedly and not as a fall-back plan ‘because dedication creates successful artists.’

Acknowledging his former lecturers, Mr Demi Fernandez and Ms Debbie Mari for the role played in his career, he thanked the Institution for hosting him and students and staff for attending.

In his vote of thanks, Music lecturer, Dr Nduduzo Makhathini, said that Bantwini had inspired the audience to look at music and musicians differently in society.

Bantwini treated the jam-packed audience to an electrifying performance of his hit songs Osama, iMali and Asanda.

UKZN student, Mr Kumkani Gibixego, gifted Bantwini with a portrait of himself in honour of his work.