South African Trio Takes Home Grammy for Best Global Music Performance
Nomcebo Zikode, Zakes Bantwini, and Wouter Kellerman, a trio of South African artists, made history at the 2023 Grammy Awards ceremony by winning the Best Global Music Performance for their hit song “Bayethe.” This win marked a milestone for African music and signalled a shift in the music industry’s recognition of the potential for African music to achieve global success.
The three artists beat out talented musicians from around the world, including Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo, USA’s Matt B, Ghana’s Rocky Dawuni, and Pakistan’s Arooj Aftab.
Nomcebo Zikode is best known for her performance in “Jerusalema,” while Zakes Bantwini is a singer, record producer, and composer who also worked on “Jerusalema.” Wouter Kellerman is a celebrated flutist, producer, and composer, and has previously won a Grammy in 2015 for his album Winds of Samsara.
The win was a proud moment for the South African music industry and for fans of the trio’s music, who took to social media to express their joy and congratulations. A day before the awards ceremony, the trio was part of a prestigious Grammy brunch dedicated to African nominees, where both Zikode and Bantwini expressed excitement about their potential win.
This Grammy win is a testament to the talent and hard work of these three South African artists, who have been making waves in the music industry with their unique and innovative music that appeals to listeners from all over the world. The win also signifies a decade of Grammy successes for South Africa, making this a momentous occasion for African music as a whole.
