Castle Milk Stout Partners with Traditional Artists to Preserve South African Heritage
As South Africans approach year-end celebrations filled with traditional ceremonies and family gatherings, many young adults struggle to connect with the songs that define their heritage. To bridge this gap, Castle Milk Stout has partnered with Zoë Modiga, Yanga Chief, Culoe De Song, Nduduzo Makhathini, and Mbuso Khoza to promote the Songs to Savour platform. The initiative encourages new adults to rediscover and learn traditional music that links generations.
Each artist brings a unique perspective to heritage preservation, spanning jazz, hip-hop, electronic music, and scholarly insight. Their involvement reflects the diverse ways South Africans engage with tradition in a modern context.
Mbuso Khoza, acclaimed musician and cultural custodian, emphasizes the importance of music as memory. “Music is not just melody. It is memory. Each song carries the wisdom of elders, the comfort of community, and the identity of a people. If we do not sing them, they disappear. Songs to Savour ensures they are sung again, not only as heritage but as part of everyday life.”
For award-winning vocalist Zoë Modiga, the campaign is about reconnection. “These songs are not just about the past. They are about belonging. A platform like this gives young people a way to make heritage part of their daily rhythm, in a way that feels modern and accessible.”
Composer and cultural thinker Nduduzo Makhathini frames traditional songs as living archives. “Traditional songs are like books where our sacred knowledge lives. By placing them on a platform where anyone can sing along, Songs to Savour ensures cultural education remains open, shared, and enduring.”
Globally respected DJ and producer Culoe De Song highlights music’s power to unify. “Music is the ultimate connector. It carries our ancestors’ voices while bringing people together in the present. When artists share songs with honesty, they become part of a bigger story of healing and social change.”
Yanga Chief, representing a younger generation, frames the project as a responsibility. “Our roots define who we are. Preserving these songs is about owning that heritage while also evolving it for today. Songs to Savour shows us that culture doesn’t belong in the past; it lives in us and moves forward with us.”
The initiative is timed to coincide with a season of cultural ceremonies and family gatherings, offering young adults a space to participate with confidence. Songs to Savour provides access to ceremonial songs that might otherwise remain out of reach, turning cultural uncertainty into pride.
Hetisani Makhubela, Brand Manager for Castle Milk Stout, explains the strategy behind the collaboration. “We brought together these five incredible artists because each one speaks to a different aspect of what it means to be South African today. Zoë, Yanga, Culoe, Nduduzo, and Mbuso each offer a unique lens on heritage, whether through jazz, hip-hop, electronic music, or cultural scholarship. Their perspectives resonate with different communities and generations, and with different ways of experiencing tradition. By uniting them on this platform, we show that there is no single way to honour your roots. There is space for everyone.”
Songs to Savour is now positioned as an educational and social resource, helping young South Africans embrace and carry forward the music that shapes their identity.
