While the spotlight at the 2026 Metro FM Music Awards belonged to South Africa’s biggest stars, one of the evening’s most influential architects was working behind the scenes. At the black carpet of MMA26, Zakes Bantwini revealed that beyond the glamour and applause, he was one of the key figures shaping the sound of the night.
Held on Saturday, 25 April 2026 at the Durban ICC, MMA26 celebrated South African musical excellence with a strong focus on heritage, legacy and contemporary sonic innovation. For Bantwini, the night was more than an awards show, it was a live orchestration of South African music at its highest level.
The Man Behind the Music of the Night
For audiences watching the spectacle unfold on stage, much of the night’s sonic fluidity appeared effortless. But according to Bantwini, that seamless musical experience was carefully curated.
“I’m just the music director,” he said modestly.
In reality, his role carried far more weight. As music director, Bantwini was responsible for shaping the full sonic experience of the awards ceremony, from the arrangement of the choir to the musical transitions and flow of the live production.
“Everything that is on stage today, I put it together, the choir, how the music flows.”
It was a quiet but powerful reminder of Bantwini’s reach, not only as a performer and producer, but as one of the country’s most trusted musical minds behind major live productions.
Mayonie Productions Marks More Than Two Decades of Cultural Impact
Beyond his role at MMA26, Bantwini reflected on the enduring influence of Mayonie Productions, the label he founded more than two decades ago.
Now 22 years into its journey, Mayonie Productions remains one of the most respected independent labels in South Africa, with a catalogue that has helped shape the country’s contemporary music identity.
The label has been behind some of Bantwini’s most defining records, including Osama, Mali, Asanda, Mabebuza, Bayasukela and Clap Your Hands, records that have not only dominated dance floors, but helped define eras in South African house music.
“I think it’s one of the most important record labels in the country,” Bantwini said.
“And it’s amazing that we’re still here and still pushing the music.”
His reflection carried the weight of longevity, but also pride, not just in his own legacy, but in the sustained relevance of a label that has consistently prioritised musicality over trend-chasing.
‘Echoes of Botanical Gardens’ Proves South Africans Still Want Musical Depth
Bantwini also spoke about his recent collaborative project with Sky Wonder, Echoes of Botanical Gardens, a body of work he admits exceeded his expectations in the way audiences embraced it.
Describing the project as deeply musical and intentionally culture-led, Bantwini said the album was never designed to chase mainstream appeal.
“We were not chasing hits. We were doing this album for the culture.”
That instinct, however, proved to be exactly what resonated.
“I knew it was a good album, but I didn’t anticipate that people were going to fall in love with it this much.”
The success of Echoes of Botanical Gardens has become a quiet but important statement in South Africa’s current music landscape: audiences still respond to depth, intention and artistry when the music is honest.
“South Africans really love good music.”
Zakes Bantwini Is Already Building the Next Wave
Even with a legacy already secured, Bantwini made it clear that his focus is firmly on the future.
Known for consistently bridging generations, he used the moment to spotlight a new class of artists he believes represent the next frontier of South African electronic music.
Among the names he highlighted were Drega, BlacQRhythm, Marco Pex, Nana Atta, Skye Wanda and Maline Aura, a new wave of producers and sonic experimenters he believes are shaping what comes next.
“That’s the future,” he said.
For Bantwini, collaboration with younger artists is not simply mentorship, it is succession planning for the sound of South African music.
More Than a Hitmaker, Still a Cultural Conductor
At MMA26, Zakes Bantwini reminded the industry that his influence extends far beyond the stage.
He may have arrived on the black carpet as an artist, but by the time the lights went up inside the arena, he had already conducted the emotional and musical architecture of the night.
