Zolani Maholo and Zakes Bantwini: When two powerful creatives collaborate, something powerful emerges-Where You Are

Yes, commissioning company, Lesaka, a company helmed by former ANC Youth League leader turned-business man, Lincoln Mali, which fortunately and wisely gave the two creatives a black canvass on which to create what they imagined the brief to mean, without apparently no interference from the suits and the money people.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

It must be said, that is one of the most beautiful and meaningful collaborations between gear creative minds to have come out of the South African music scene in recent years. It is in fact, a dream collaboration. It feels so natural that you even wonder why has it taken these two this long to realise that they belong together musically.

Yes, Zolani Maholo, has over the years emerged as the front woman front woman for the fusion group Freshly Ground, where her beautiful voices contributed to making this group one of the most significant, multi-cultural music groups to have emerged on the South African music scene post 1994.

Zolani’s iconic, almost waling voice on the group’s album was so distinct that it was unthinkable that one day, she would be on her own, and still carry her powerful voice with, beyond the group.

However, she has just done that, with a number of successful musical projects on her own as a solo artist.

But then on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Untitled Basement in Braamfontein, the media were introduced to a new sound, a new anthem, featuring Zolani and the production skills and flair of Zakes Bantwini. This song is set to soar high up there as both a sing-along and dance piece, poised to connect with South Africa’s diverse audiences and music tastes cutting across race, gender and age. Apparently the two had before tried to work together without success, but now that has happened, and they maybe more joint projects by the two in future, they hinted on Tuesday.

We were given a taste of that song at the launch on Tuesday. The mood among mostly the young and happening, most of whom were the talkative crowd of influencers and a few proper media, as the song was presented to them by the two creatives and a huge team from a creative agency and from the commissioning company.

Yes, commissioning company, Lesaka, a company helmed by former ANC Youth League leader turned-business man, Lincoln Mali, which fortunately and wisely gave the two creatives a black canvass on which to create what they imagined the brief to mean, without apparently no interference from the suits and the money people.

Of course, we will not know the extent of freedom they were given, as in most corporate commissions, the shadow of the suits is always lurking in the back ground. After all, they are the ones providing the money for the job to be done. In fact, in this case, there is no trace of a corporate hand in the making of Where You Are, and that is how cool this project has become. Yes, there is corporate money involved, and from the look of things, the scale of the production, good money must have been sunk into it. It is just that the money people seem to have wisely retreated into the background, leaving the creative to do what they do best, which is to create beautiful music.

This in a way, raises the obvious question of how is Lesaka going to benefit from the investment they have put into this project, if the hand of corporate cannot be detected. This is because, it feels like the aesthetic has had an upper hand over marketing gimmicks inherent in the song. In fact this anthem is so pure, so beautifully done, it is as if it is meant for the general market, and not to meet the corporate objectives.

The answer can be discerned from what Mali said at the launch, asked the very same question I am raising here.

“The idea of creating this anthem came from the realisation that the brand was broken. For the past five years, we had to start afresh, building the brand (Lesaka).

“We wanted to create music for our 4000 employees, who were dislussioned. We wanted to motivate them as we build the brand up again to the top of A

“At first we were worried that they would not like it, but they did when we unveiled it to them three weeks ago,” Mali explained.

“Our history is marked with struggle songs, songs of celebration or elation, sorrow and joy. Sung storytelling, protest or gospel, it’s in our DNA. “But it is in the township where music really lives.

So says Zakes, award-winning musician and songwriter, on the making of Where You Are, an anthem curated to bring people together in culture and communities across South Africa.

A fusion of Afro House, Dance, Afro Tech and Folk, Where You Are combines the rhythmic and soulful sounds of Zakes and Zolani, weaving in moments of saxophone, brass instruments and African percussion, as is the music of rural Mzansi.

Spanning across five of our national languages, the track also seeks to uplift. “As South Africans, we are often overlooked and undervalued, yet we can be unstoppable,” says Zakes. “We wanted to create something that was made for all of us, in a way that resonates individually.” The bridge intentionally speaks to a nostalgic nursery rhyme saying “Right in your corner, where you are…”

Busuku nemini (Day and night)

Nanini nanini (Wherever, whenever)

Komkhulu nomncinci (Old and young)

Just wanna be where you are

Symbolic and powerful in their own right, Zakes and Zolani are no strangers to authentic collaborations. Zolani co-wrote and performed alongside Shakira in the 2010 Soccer World Cup anthem of Waka Waka, and Zakes’ Grammy win with Nomcebo Zikode and Walter Kellerman for Bayethe gave recognition to truly African music on a global scale.

As with any piece of great artistry, seldom does it happen in isolation. The inspiration for Where You Are stemmed from an idea between creative agency, Grid Worldwide, and fintech, Lesaka Technologies, whose brand values are all about being a human-first company, and being in-step with customers, merchants and communities, meeting them where they are, the company says.

“The idea of Where You Are gave Zakes and me a reason to create something bigger than a song,” says Zolani. “It became an anthem about belonging, about recognising one another, celebrating what we can create together, and reminding South Africans that wherever you are, you have a place in this country and in its story.”

.Where You Are. Now streaming on all major platforms.  Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Deezer, Tidal and Amazon Musichatgrove.