'This is the last one for me, it’s really over for Zakes Bantwini' — Zakhele Madida talks about ending alter ego’s journey

Zakes Bantwini, real name Zakhele Madida, says he is ready to hang up his coat and finally release his last album after 19 years as a musician. 

The award-winning musician is aware he is at the apex of his career and that his name is mentioned in spaces he could only have dreamed of when starting out in the entertainment industry.  

He tells TshisaLIVE he is not retiring from music, he’s bowing out as a recording artist.

“I don't want to say I'm retiring from music, but definitely this is my last album that I'm working on under this brand. It's over for Zakes Bantwini. But Zakhele Madida is still going to produce music for other people, and you know, they always say you should quit while you are on top. I will tell you now, my music is classic, I'm enjoying a big success. I'm nominated at the Grammys, I hope I win so that I really bow out with a grand bow.” 

Zakes released his much-anticipated Ghetto King album last year that saw him bag his first SA Music Awards gong. He says the brand Zakes Bantwini is what it is because of the collaborations. 

“I'm a collaborator. Music is a collaborative effort. The music is an instrumental collaboration. It's a bass collaboration, it's the drums, with keys, horns and the voice, in essence the music is a collaborative effort. So the career also is a collaboration. My music as well, I mean, I've collaborated with Nomcebo and Wouter, Kasango, Nana Atta, Karyendasoul. All these big moments abo Wasting My Time. My whole entire career is based on collaboration ... I know that and I embrace that. I think that's why I'm able to enjoy what I'm doing right now.”