Johannesburg, South Africa — Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, entrepreneur and cultural visionary Zakes Bantwini is set to officially launch the Zakes Bantwini Foundation, an initiative focused on empowering communities through art, education, sports, music and cultural development.
Built on the belief that talent should be nurtured and transformed into sustainable careers, the foundation aims to uplift women, youth and aspiring creatives across South Africa by providing mentorship, skills development, industry guidance and access to opportunities.
“South Africa is filled with extraordinary talent. The foundation was created to help bridge the gap between passion and opportunity by equipping young people with the tools, knowledge and support needed to thrive in the creative and sports industries.” Said Zakes Bantwini
The foundation will roll out several impactful programmes including:
- EmpowerHER Workshops: empowering women in music, sports and the arts through leadership and entrepreneurship training.
- Youth Talent Incubator: a mentorship and development programme under Mayonie Productions focused on nurturing emerging artists and athletes.
- The Business of Music Summit: providing education on publishing, marketing, distribution, and monetisation in the music industry.
- Creative Arts Festival: celebrating local talent through performances, exhibitions, workshops, and international networking opportunities.
- Sports Leadership Academy and Digital Media Training: equipping young people with leadership, branding, and digital skills for modern careers.
Through these initiatives, the foundation hopes to create a lasting impact by developing the next generation of South African innovators, artists, athletes and entrepreneurs.
The foundation also welcomes sponsorships, partnerships and donations to help expand its reach and continue investing in community development initiatives.