South African filmmaker and director Keith Benza has been nominated for Best Music Video at the Metro FM Music Awards 2026 for his cinematic direction on the music video for “Mamma” by rising star Zee Nxumalo.
The nomination marks a significant milestone in a busy year for Benza, who has also returned to the big screen as a cinematographer at the Joburg Film Festival, further cementing his reputation as one of South Africa’s most promising visual storytellers.
A Cinematic Tribute to Sophiatown
Benza’s nominated work on the official music video for “Mamma” has already resonated strongly with audiences, surpassing 15 million views on YouTube. The visually rich production is set within a stylised world inspired by Sophiatown, the historic cultural hub that once defined South Africa’s golden era of jazz and urban creativity.
According to Benza, the nostalgic tone of the song inspired the creative direction behind the video.
“From the first listen, the song felt nostalgic in a way that immediately took me to the golden era of South African music,” he says. “Sophiatown became the perfect visual language because it allowed us to show growth, not only in Zee as an artist, but in the way we approach storytelling in music videos.”
Benza adds that the concept reflects his passion for building immersive visual worlds while honouring the heritage of South African music culture.
A Strong Presence on the Film Festival Circuit
Alongside the music video nomination, Benza is celebrating the festival run of Mayfair, directed by Leonardo Neo Mokoena, for which he served as Director of Photography.
The film has been selected for the Joburg Film Festival as well as the Saath Jiyo International Film Festival and the International Folklore Film Festival.
The selection marks Benza’s second consecutive appearance at the Joburg Film Festival as a cinematographer, following the screening of Being You, directed by Minenhle Luthuli, at last year’s edition.
Building a Cinematic Language for Music Videos
Working under his creative banner Parallel Vision, Benza has built a reputation for producing story-driven visuals for some of South Africa’s most recognisable artists.
His portfolio includes projects such as “Ngisakuthanda”, which has surpassed 50 million views online, “Imali” by Karyendasoul and Zakes Bantwini, “Ematshwaleni” by ANATII and Kususa, as well as early visual work for Elaine on “You’re The One.”
“I’m excited that artists are putting more focus on their visuals now,” Benza explains. “The international success of South African music has raised the standard, and that creates space for directors to be more ambitious.”
Global Experience Shapes a New Perspective
Before focusing full-time on narrative-driven music videos and film in South Africa, Benza spent nearly a year travelling internationally as a touring visual director during Zakes Bantwini’s global run following the success of the hit single “Osama.”
During the tour, Benza documented live performances and behind-the-scenes moments across several countries—an experience he credits with reshaping his perspective on scale and storytelling.
“That period changed how I see the role of visuals in music,” he says. “You realise the audience is not just local—the whole world could be watching.”
A Filmmaker to Watch
With a Metro FM Music Awards nomination, multiple international festival selections, and a growing catalogue of narrative-driven music videos, Benza’s recent run signals the emergence of a filmmaker determined to push the visual language of South African music into a more cinematic era.
