Kellerman, Bantwini, Zikode win
LOS ANGELES - Zakes Bantwini, Wouter Kellerman and Nomcebo Zikode are officially Grammy Award winners.
The trio won the award for the Best Global Music Performance in the Global Music category for their hit
‘Bayethe’ at music’s most prestigious event in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
“Thank you so much. This is such a beautiful moment on the road to sharing South African music and culture with the world,” Kellerman said during his acceptance speech.
Zakes Bantwini added: “I 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.”
Taking to the mic after her colleagues, Zikode sang a portion of ‘Jerusalema’ before thanking her family and team.
This is Kellerman’s fourth Grammy Award and both Zakes Bantwini’s and Zikode’s first.
“Unkulunkulu uNumber 1 (God is Number 1),” Zakes Bantwini wrote, retweeting the winning announcement.
“We won the Grammy for the Best Global Music Performance for our song Thanks so much to everybody for all the support - this is for the whole of South Africa! Awesomeness,” Kellerman wrote, also sharing the news on his social media.
In an interview with News24 ahead of the awards show, Zakes Bantwini predicted their win, saying, “I’m very optimistic that we’re going to come back with it. I have such a very positive vibe about it. Somehow, I’m content.” Zakes Bantwini, Kellerman and Zikode’s win marks the 10th time a Grammy Award will come home to South Africa.
In 2022, South African DJ and music producer Black Coffee won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album for Subconsciously. among others.
The song, which is a fusion of maskandi, Afro-pop and dance music, was released in 2022.
Zakes Bantwini said in his acceptance speech. “...This moment right here just proves and affirms that every dream is valid. I want to thank the academy. I just want to say to every child in a ghetto or village that it is possible.”
An elated Kellerman said this was such a beautiful moment on the road to sharing SA music and culture.