A Reunion Years in the Making
At Kunye, one of South Africa’s most influential Afro-electronic gatherings, TheJournalistDJ.com had an unexpected reunion with celebrated producer, DJ, and composer Blanka Mazimela. The last time the two connected on camera was during the COVID-19 era, around 2020–2021, when Blanka generously gave one of the platform’s earliest interviews.
“I’m glad we bumped into each other again,”
Blanka said, reflecting on that first conversation recorded in the early days of his global rise.
“It’s good to see this grow, brah.”
Global Travels and Creative Expansion
Since that first interview, Blanka’s journey has accelerated.
“It’s been a lot, man. Traveling the world, seeing the world, working on projects,”
he said.
“It’s been a lot.”
From touring internationally to releasing critically celebrated Afro-house and organic house records, Blanka continues to evolve his sound while carrying South African roots at the center of everything he does.
Kunye: A Home for His Growth
Blanka is not a guest at Kunye—he’s been part of the movement from the beginning.
“I’ve been working with Kunye since the inception,”
he explained.
“Releasing with them, playing at Kunye… it’s part of my journey.”
He credits Shimza and the Kunye team for playing a significant role in shaping both his creative direction and career trajectory.
Inside Bantwanas: A Live Ensemble With Heart
One of Blanka’s most profound commitments is to Bantwanas, an ensemble he calls his “love project.”
“Bantwanas is a group of creatives. We do everything live,”
he explained.
The ensemble includes:
- Sobantwana – vocals
- Ayabonga – vocals
- Blanka – keys & production
- Dona – drums
In 2023 the group performed at Circle Festival in France, earning global attention for their emotive live Afro-house performances.
“It’s something people get to witness live, and I love that,” he said.
Gcwanini and the Call of the Ancestors
The conversation turned spiritual—towards Gcwanini, one of Blanka’s most moving works, rooted in Xhosa tradition.
“Gcwanini opened up a lot for me,” he said. “It allowed me to get into the spiritual side of making music.”
Following its release, Blanka felt called to explore deeper storytelling centered on ancestry, identity, and place. This gave birth to The Homelands, a cinematic project shot in the Eastern Cape where he was born.
“You’ll see Ryan Murgatroyd in the kraal playing an ancestral set,” he described. “Everyone I’ve worked with has a deeper connection with music. And I’m tapping into that.”
For Blanka, performing in a kraal at his family home—cars behind him, dust at his feet—is not just imagery. It is identity, culture, and a return to self.
“The more I explore, the more I’m finding who I am. And people get to see where I come from.”
The Creative Process: Spiritual, Vocal, Intentional
Blanka’s music has long been described as spiritual—and he agrees.
“I’m big on vocals,” he said. “I like having a connection with the person I’m working with. Them telling their story, them telling my story through them.”
His collaborations are handpicked:
- Khonaye
- Sobantwana
Each vocalist is encouraged to tap into the “inside,” the soulful core that drives Blanka’s style.
“I’m not trying to make fillers. I’m trying to make things people can feel.”
What Fans Can Expect Next
With new projects on the horizon and The Homelands expanding, Blanka is focused on intention.
“Right now, I’m letting the music talk,” he said. “Everything I’m releasing is intentional. I’m asking myself: What is the Blanka Mazimela experience? What is the Bantwanas experience?”
A Creative Force Rooted in Tradition
From global stages to kraals in the Eastern Cape, from layered vocal production to live Afro-house ensembles, Blanka Mazimela stands as one of South Africa’s most distinctive electronic artists—balancing tradition, spirituality, and contemporary sound.
And as he reconnects with TheJournalistDJ.com, it’s clear one thing hasn’t changed:
his journey remains deeply personal, deeply rooted, and deeply felt.
