KZN musicians Zakes Bantwini and Nomcebo Zikode, along with producer Wouter Kellerman (from Johannesburg) will be returning home with a Grammy Award.

The trio won the award for Best Global Music Performance for their collaboration Bayethe at the 65th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles last night.

KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube congratulated the trio for their win.

Woohooo we won the GRAMMY for the ‘Best Global Performance’ for our song ‘Bayethe’ a collaboration with @Nomcebozikode and @ZakesBantwiniSA … proudly South African 😍 @MorningLiveSABC @Anele @DStv #GRAMMYs #FlutePainter🎶🎶 #WouterKellerman pic.twitter.com/hfseEhwM81

— Wouter Kellerman (@wouterkellerman) February 6, 2023

This was Kellerman’s fourth nomination and his second Grammy.

The premier said the Grammy Award for Bantwini and Zikode affirms the contribution that they have made it in the music industry – locally and internationally.

“We are proud of Zakes Bantwini, who hails from KwaMashu and Nomcebo Zikode, who is from Mpumalanga township in Hammarsdale for flying the South African flag high and putting the province on the global music stage by winning this Grammy Award.”

“We celebrate the success of the son and daughter of the province who are a beacon of hope and an inspiration to many young people in townships and rural areas. This Grammy Award comes at the right time as we are reviving the hopes of the province’s citizenry, who have shown great resilience and tenacity in the face of adversity.”

Dube-Ncube said Bantwini and Zikode follow in the footsteps of other Grammy Awards winners – Ladysmith Black Mambazo and DJ Black Coffee – who also hail from their ‘magnificent’ province.

“Zakes, Nomcebo and Kellerman’s Grammy Award success is not only remarkable for KZN and South Africa, but it is also significant for the African continent.

“By winning this Grammy Award, Zakes, Nomcebo and Kellerman have shown the world that KZN, South Africa and Africa are indeed a musical force to be reckoned with globally.

“We cannot thank them enough for reviving faith and hope for many aspiring artists in the province and South Africa as a whole. They have indicated to the world that our province and country continues to excel despite facing hurdles,” she said.

Congratulations to @WouterKellerman, @ZakesBantwiniSA and @NomceboZikode for winning the Best Global Music Performance #Grammy for their collaboration ‘Bayethe’. We applaud you for your brilliant contribution in placing South Africa on the world stage once again. pic.twitter.com/3HQUj7peya

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 6, 2023

Dube-Ncube went on to applaud the trio for the title of their song – Bayethe – which she said can be seen as a tribute to King Misuzulu KaZwelithini, the late King Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu and many other lings who restored hope, peace, unity and revived faith in humanity.

Despite many South Africans claiming they did not know the award-winning Bayethe song, everyone was happy with the trio’s achievement.

I’m going to be honest though, I don’t even know the name of the song by Zakes Bantwini, Nomcebo Zikode and that guy but I’m happy for them on winning the Grammy award. pic.twitter.com/vEyGCqlKJM

— m a s h è s h a 💨 (@_mashesha) February 6, 2023