# Amapiano: A Cultural Export of Freedom - Panel & Live Performance ![a](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_5_4__480x385/public/2026-04/Screenshot%202026-04-10%20at%2012.39.02%E2%80%AFPM.png?h=be9aa2f1&itok=_Nri7mnb) #### calendar\_today Date and Time **May 8, 2026** 04:00PM - 06:00PM EDT #### pin\_drop Location **CAS Lounge** [ RSVP arrow\_circle\_right ](https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aUVFHWQRRMmbJtk) ## The Sound of Freedom Evolved ###### AMAPIANO: A CULTURAL EXPORT OF FREEDOM Hosted by the Harvard Center for African Studies & Brand South Africa, the cultural diplomacy activation aims to position South Africa's creative industries, anchored by the Amapiano music genre, not only as a global cultural export but also as a living expression of the country's history, identity, and evolving influence. - *30 years of South Africa's Constitution* - *50 years since the June 16 Student Uprising* - *70 years since the Women's March of 1956* How do we translate the legacy of resistance, resilience, and collective action into cultural capital that educates and mobilises future generations? Amapiano emerges as a powerful response. Born from contemporary township culture with influences from African traditional music, and shaped by post-apartheid youth identity, it represents a new era of South African expression-one that carries history forward through sound, movement, and global connection. #### Panel at Harvard *Date: May 8, 2026* *Time: 4pm-6pm* *Venue: Cambridge - Harvard Center for African Studies (CAS Lounge)* 1280 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138 ***Panel RSVP:*** [**https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV\_aUVFHWQRRMmbJtk**](https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aUVFHWQRRMmbJtk) ![panel](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2026-04/CAS%20Full%20Panel%20Poster.png?itok=xWaaVcyY) #### Live Performance South African Afro House DJ, Zakes Bantwini, will be performing a special mix for the city of Boston. Maseme, Africa 2 the World, Afrique Events, and Sanaa Groove present a special evening in Boston featuring **Grammy Award-winning artist Zakes Bantwini**. A global force in Afro house and electronic music, Zakes Bantwini is known for his soulful sound, powerful vocals, and genre-defining productions. With hits like *“Osama,” “Imali,”*and *“Abantu,”* he continues to push African dance music onto the world stage. **Event Details** 📍 Descent – 33 Dunster St, Cambridge, MA 🗓 May 8 ⏰ 10PM – 2AM ***Live Performance Tickets:*** [**https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zakes-bantwini-tickets-1988091146136**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/zakes-bantwini-tickets-1988091146136) ###### *Purchasing a Discounted After-Celebration Ticket? Here’s What You Need to Know* *The after-celebration is open to everyone, but the discounted ticket rate is exclusively available to panel attendees. To access your discounted entry:* *1. RSVP for the panel* *2. You will receive the 15% discount through the confirmation email the week of the panel. Code will also be available during the panel.* *Once you have the discount code, click the Live Performance link above to get your ticket.* ![Zakes Bantwini Panel](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2026-04/Zakes%20Poster.jpeg?itok=pkdUKCIT) ## Panelists **Zakes Bantwini, Grammy-Award Winning Afrohouse Artist and Producer** ![k](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-04/GGP_RT_Zakes_Bantwini-1.jpeg?itok=CNzKlA8H) Zakhele Madida, popularly known as Zakes Bantwini, is a celebrated South African musician,producer, and entrepreneur. Over the past two decades, Zakes has cemented his place as a pioneer in dance and Afro-house music. He rose to prominence with his distinctive fusion of Afro-house, blending traditional South African sounds with contemporary electronic elements. Some of his most notable tracks include "Clap Your Hands," "Juju," "Imali," “Asanda” and "Osama", the latter of which became a global anthem in 2021. The monumental success of "Osama" earned Zakes international recognition, leading to performances around the world in locations such as Portugal, Dubai, Bali, London, Switzerland,Miami, New York, Greece, and iconic events like ADE, Pacha in Ibiza, AfrikaBurn, and Burning Man (2023 & 2024). In 2022, he was invited to perform at the Qatar United Fashion Runway just two days before the FIFA World Cup Finals, alongside major artists like DJ Snake, Post Malone,and Ozuna. In an unprecedented achievement, Zakes recently won his first Grammy Award for"Bayethe," a powerful collaboration with Wouter Kellerman and Nomcebo Zikode. Following this triumph, Zakes recognized the importance of establishing a platform for African talent at the Grammys. In 2023, shortly after winning the award, he hosted the President and CEO of the Grammys in South Africa to celebrate local talent and honour previous South African Grammy winners. He has also made significant contributions by organizing a global panel that takes place during Grammy week at Grammy Museum. The panel features African talent and entertainment entrepreneurs, aimed at discussing the future and direction of African music and how to elevate it as part of the global conversation. Beyond his acclaimed music career, Zakes Bantwini has built a formidable presence as a cultural entrepreneur and business leader in South Africa’s entertainment industry. In 2004, he founded Mayonie Productions, his record label, which has delivered successful Afro-house and dance projects while helping launch the careers of several emerging artists. Today, Mayonie Productions stands as one of South Africa’s leading dance labels, home to some of the country’s most exciting rising Afro-house talent. Expanding beyond music releases, Mayonie has grown into live events, hosting its first Mayonie Open Air event on November 30th, 2025—a sold-out show that marked a major milestone in the brand’s evolution as a lifestyle and cultural platform. Looking ahead, Zakes plans to deepen his focus on Mayonie, with ambitions to expand the label globally. His vision includes signing more artists, hosting more large-scale events, and growing Mayonie into a dynamic entertainment hub that leads across music, business, andsports. Zakes Bantwini has further expanded his brand through collaborations and partnerships with both global and local brands such as Mercedes Benz, Glenmorangie, First National Bank, as well as being a UNICEF Ambassador, amongst other brands. Zakes Bantwini is also passionate about leveraging his platform for social good. He is a strong advocate for education and youth empowerment, actively supporting initiatives that create opportunities for young people in South Africa. His efforts will soon be formalized through the Zakes BantwiniFoundation, which is set to be officially launched later this year. As of 2025,Zakes is a proud Harvard alumnus, having completed the Business of Entertainment, Media,and Sports program. Overall, Zakes Bantwini's brand is built on a foundation of musical excellence, entrepreneurship, style, and social impact, making him a multi-dimensional figure in both SouthAfrican and global entertainment. - Apple Music: - Spotify: - Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok: Zakesbantwini **Kevin Boakye, Co-Founder Africa Creative Agency** ![j](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-04/PHOTO-2026-04-09-08-40-50.jpg?itok=bISDu3Tr) Based in Johannesburg, Kevin Boakye is a Co-Founder and Partner of Africa Creative Agency. The Company is a 360 Pan-African entertainment agency focused on managing Africa’s best creative talent, including Grammy award winner Tyla, Nasty C, Maglera Doe Boy, Pearl Thusi, Ama Qamata and Sauti Sol among others. Kevin previously led BD and Partnerships for Carry1st, Africa’s leading mobile games publisher. He is an experienced executive with over 15 years of global private equity and investment banking expertise (Alterra Capital Partners, The Carlyle Group and Lehman Brothers). Kevin has executed over $1 billion dollars’ worth of transactions across technology, media & telecommunications, consumer and healthcare sectors. He received an MBA from Harvard Business School (Class of 2013) and holds an AB degree from Dartmouth College. **Palesa Nomazi Shongwe, Filmmaker and Producer** ![A](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/2026-04/Palesa%20Headshot.jpeg) Palesa Nomanzi Shongwe is a South African filmmaker, film scholar, and Fulbright recipient whose work spans fiction, documentary, and the porous terrain between the two. Her scholarly writing focuses on South African film history, while her independent documentary practice is rooted in the essay film form, personal ethnography, and the complexities of the archive. Shongwe began her career in 2004 and has worked as a researcher, development producer, story-liner, and head writer across numerous productions, including as Story Producer on Netflix’s first South African true-crime documentary series, Senzo: Murder of a Soccer Star (2022 and Beauty and the Bester (2025). Between 2015 to 2019, she lectured in film history, theory and screenwriting in the Film and Television Department at the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Arts before returning to professional filmmaking full-time. An alumna of the Realness Institute (South Africa, 2020), Shongwe has written and directed three acclaimed short films: Atrophy (and the fear of fading) (2010), winner of the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the Oberhausen Short Film Festival (2011) and screened internationally, including at Visions du Réel and VideoEx; uNomalanga and the Witch (2015), winner of Best Short Film at the Durban International Film Festival (SA) and the Baobab Short Film Prize at Film Africa (UK); and 11 to 19, an experimental documentary produced during the 5x5x5 Documentary Residency Program hosted by the Winterthur Short FIlm Festival and the Lucerne and Lucerne School of Design, FIlm and Art (Switzerland). Shongwe holds a Master of Fine Arts from Temple University, Philadelphia, and is currently a Harvard South Africa Fellow at the Harvard Center for African Studies, in affiliation with the Film and Visual Studies program at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. **Witness Matlou is a South African jazz pianist, composer, and performer.** ![W](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-04/Witness%20Matlou%20Image.jpeg?itok=9JsERSFa) Witness Matlou serves as a professor of Piano Harmony, Jazz Composition, and Global Jazz Studies at Berklee College of Music, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He also teaches at Harvard University’s African language program. Matlou’s music reflects a rich tapestry of influences, drawing from South African traditional music, folk, gospel, jazz, western classical and global music. His compositions and performances are marked by a deep sense of storytelling, rhythmic, harmonic invesnions, and emotional resonance. Matlou believes that music is a powerful tool that not only reflects and narrates social movements, but can be used for social change. He has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, as well as at leading international festivals such as the Monterey Jazz Festival, DC Jazz Festival, Twin Cities Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), and the Panama Jazz Festival. Through these platforms, Matlou has shared his music with global audiences, building bridges through sound and cultural expression. Through his work as an educator and performer, Witness Matlou continues to shape the next generation of artists while sharing a deeply personal and globally resonant musical vision **Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Assistant Professor in African & African American Studies at Harvard University** ![k](/sites/g/files/omnuum9081/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-04/2025_05_DrT_ProfileImage1276.jpg?itok=B3c7lu9a) Tinashe Mushakavanhu is a Zimbabwe-born writer and scholar. He is an Assistant Professor in African & African American Studies at Harvard University with a focus on contemporary African literature and popular culture. Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#) Save: [ Add to calendar calendar\_today ](https://africa.harvard.edu/node/1931811/event-feed.ics) Copy link link