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By Bonginkosi Tiwane

Digital Journalist


WATCH: Zakes Bantwini performs new single ‘Mama Thula’ on hot air balloon in Tanzania

The award-winning star performed for the Springboks last week at the Multichoice offices, when they were welcomed by throngs of supporters.


It would be an ideal situation for any artist to perform their new single on a big platform, but getting to do that in a foreign land and in a hot air balloon – first thing in the morning – is something few artists can claim to have experienced.

South Africa’s Grammy award-winning muso, Zakes Bantwini, can lay claim to this once in a lifetime experience after his performance inside a hot-air balloon in the in Serengeti, Tanzania.

“An absolutely remarkable once in a lifetime experience,” said Bantwini on Instagram.

“My last day with Daybreaker in Serengeti, Tanzania, was an out of this world journey. I got the chance to perform my new single on a hot air balloon, through a silent disco musical experience and Mama Thula became more than just a song.”

The ballooning expedition is the world’s first trans-Serengeti Ballooning Tour, which gives patrons an experience of the entire Serengeti flying by hot air balloon then landing on the Eastern shores of Lake Victoria.

“The joy of travelling by hot air balloon is that it allows you to reach areas of the Serengeti that are typically untouched by other adventurers, providing a sense of exclusivity and the opportunity to explore hidden corners of this remarkable landscape,” the Serengeti Balloon Safaris’ Instagram page states.

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Bantwini performed at Daybreaker, a  morning dance community of more than half-a-million members in 28 cities around the world that inspires humans to start their day unlike any other – by waking up and dancing in iconic spaces, sober, first thing in the morning.

“What if we could reimagine our mornings, turn nightlife on its head and dance with reckless abandon without substances before going to work?” one said Daybreaker founder Radha Agrawal on the company’s website.

In-demand Zakes

Mama Thula was released two weeks ago and has been streamed just below a 150 000 times on Spotify. The celebratory song which speaks to a mother’s prayers being answered, was performed by Bantwini last week at the Multichoice offices when the Springboks were welcomed back to the country after their triumph at the Rugby World Cup.

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A post shared by Zakes Bantwini (@zakesbantwini)

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