Grammy Award-winning musician and entrepreneur Zakes Bantwini is preparing to officially launch the Zakes Bantwini Foundation, an initiative focused on empowering communities through education, sport, music, arts and cultural development.
The foundation aims to create opportunities for women, youth and aspiring creatives across South Africa by providing mentorship, skills development, industry guidance and career support.
Empowering the Next Generation
Speaking about the initiative, Bantwini said the foundation was created to help close the gap between talent and opportunity.
“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,” he said.
The organisation plans to introduce several developmental programmes designed to nurture future leaders, creatives and athletes.
Focus on Women and Youth Development
Among the key initiatives is the EmpowerHER Workshops programme, which will focus on supporting women in music, sport and the arts through leadership and entrepreneurship training.
The foundation will also roll out the Youth Talent Incubator under Mayonie Productions, a mentorship platform aimed at developing emerging artists and athletes by offering industry exposure and professional guidance.
Building Careers in Music and Media
Another major project is The Business of Music Summit, which will educate young creatives on important industry topics such as publishing, marketing, branding and monetisation.
A Creative Arts Festival is also expected to form part of the foundation’s activities, providing local talent with opportunities to showcase their work through performances, exhibitions and networking platforms.
In addition, the organisation plans to launch a Sports Leadership Academy and Digital Media Training programme to equip young people with leadership, branding and digital communication skills relevant to modern career opportunities.
Investing in Community Development
Through the foundation, Bantwini hopes to contribute toward developing the next generation of South African creatives, entrepreneurs and athletes while encouraging greater investment in community-driven cultural and educational development.
The initiative further reflects the growing role public figures and industry leaders are playing in creating sustainable opportunities for young people and underserved communities across the country.
Read more about Zakes Bantwini.
