Zakes Bantwini and Zolani Mahola Unite for Powerful New Anthem Where You Are
South African music heavyweights Zakes Bantwini and Zolani Mahola have joined creative forces for Where You Are, a new cross-cultural anthem centred on belonging, hope, collaboration and the communities that shape South Africa. The song brings together two respected voices whose careers have consistently reflected the country’s rich musical identity. Through a blend of Afro House, Afro Tech, Dance and Folk influences, the collaboration creates a sound that feels both contemporary and deeply connected to South African musical traditions. Where You Are carries a message that extends beyond music, encouraging listeners to recognise their shared place within the country’s diverse cultural landscape. At its heart, the song is about connection and the belief that people should feel seen, valued and included wherever they come from.
Music has always played an important role in South Africa’s social and cultural history, providing a way for people to tell stories, preserve traditions and express their experiences. From township sounds to rural musical traditions, different genres have helped capture the country’s struggles, celebrations, spirituality and changing identity. For Bantwini, that relationship between music and community is especially visible in South Africa’s townships, where music continues to form part of everyday life. The Grammy-winning musician believes music remains closely connected to the country’s diverse cultures and heritage. That understanding helped shape Where You Are into a song that celebrates the communities and cultural experiences that make South Africa distinctive.
The collaboration with Mahola adds another dimension to the project, bringing together two artists with different musical backgrounds and shared connections to South African culture. Mahola, known for her distinctive voice and songwriting, has built a career that has taken her music to audiences beyond the country’s borders. Bantwini has similarly established himself as an influential figure in contemporary African music, with his work spanning genres and international collaborations. Their different artistic identities allow Where You Are to move between modern electronic sounds, traditional influences and expressive vocal performances. The result is a song designed to communicate a message of belonging without losing the musical character that defines both performers.
For Mahola, the project represents something larger than simply recording a new song with another established artist. She describes the idea behind Where You Are as an opportunity to create something that could speak to South Africans across different backgrounds and communities. The song focuses on recognising one another and celebrating what can happen when people work together. Its central message is straightforward, wherever you are, you belong and you have a place in the country’s story. That message gives the track a strong emotional foundation while allowing the music itself to carry the idea through rhythm, melody and language.
The production of Where You Are reflects South Africa’s musical diversity by bringing together Afro House, Dance, Afro Tech and Folk elements. Saxophone and brass instrumentation add a rich live feel, while African percussion and rhythmic patterns draw inspiration from musical traditions associated with rural South Africa. The arrangement gives the song enough energy for contemporary audiences while maintaining clear links to the country’s traditional sounds. The use of five South African languages further strengthens the track’s focus on cultural inclusion and representation. Instead of relying on one musical or linguistic identity, the song brings several influences together to create a broader expression of South African belonging.
The song’s bridge adds another familiar element by drawing on the feeling of a nostalgic nursery rhyme before returning to its central theme. The lyrics use phrases that convey ideas of being together day and night, regardless of age or circumstance. This reinforces the song’s emphasis on connection between different generations and communities. The familiar quality of the bridge also gives listeners an accessible point of entry into the song while maintaining its wider cultural message. By combining familiar elements with modern production, Where You Are creates a musical experience that connects memory, identity and contemporary South African music.
Both Bantwini and Mahola bring significant international experience to the collaboration, making their meeting particularly meaningful within the context of the song. Mahola previously co-wrote and performed on Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) with Shakira for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a project that introduced South African and African musical influences to a massive global audience. Bantwini has also reached international audiences through collaborations such as Bayethe with Nomcebo Zikode and Wouter Kellerman, which earned a Grammy Award. Their respective careers demonstrate how South African artists can carry local stories and sounds onto international stages. Where You Are brings those experiences back to a song focused specifically on South African people, culture and community.
The idea behind Where You Are originated through a creative collaboration between Grid Worldwide and fintech company Lesaka Technologies. The concept centred on the idea of meeting people where they are, with themes of accessibility, human connection and community at its core. Bantwini and Mahola developed those themes into a musical expression rather than treating them solely as a commercial message. That approach gives the song a wider cultural purpose, allowing its central idea to exist through music, language and shared experience. The collaboration demonstrates how creative partnerships can turn a simple idea about connection into a song that speaks to broader questions of identity and belonging.
Bantwini has described the project as a reflection of the strength that South Africans can demonstrate when they recognise their collective potential. His contribution brings the energy and rhythmic character associated with his work, while Mahola adds her own distinctive vocal identity and storytelling approach. Together, they create a track that moves between contemporary African dance music and more traditional influences without treating those elements as separate worlds. The collaboration also highlights the value of bringing established artists together around a shared creative purpose. Where You Are therefore becomes both a new musical release and a celebration of the diverse artistic voices that continue to shape South African music.
Where You Are arrives at a time when South African music continues to attract international attention while remaining deeply rooted in local communities and traditions. The song uses that connection as its foundation, bringing together established artists, multiple languages and a range of musical influences. Its message of belonging gives the collaboration relevance beyond its production, while its energetic sound keeps the focus firmly on music. Bantwini and Mahola have created a track that celebrates South Africa through its people, languages, sounds and shared experiences. With Where You Are now available across major digital music platforms, the collaboration offers listeners a fresh reminder that music can create a sense of connection while reflecting the many identities that make up the country.
