Apple Music Announces Zakes Bantwini As The Latest Isgubhu Cover Star

Apple Music has announced South African dance music singer-songwriter and producer, Zakes Bantwini (real name Zakhele Madida) as its latest Isgubhu cover star.

“Isgubhu is something I am really fond of, I am honoured to be featured on the program alongside many other exciting artists. Apple Music has really created a great platform to elevate the African Dance Scene to new heights! I’d like to give a huge shout out to Apple Music for the continuous support. It really means a lot, not just to me, but also to the amazingly talented artists that I have worked with on my latest project.”

Over a career spanning a decade, this anointed Ghetto King has added numerous strings to his musical bow as a performer, songwriter and producer, who began a new electronic-rooted chapter in 2019 with the release of his single “OUAGADOUGOU” feat. Djeff.

He cemented his status as an electronic force to be reckoned with after the release of his futuristic album Ghetto King (2021) that merged EDM and tribal house, spawning the hit single “Osama”, which peaked at #1 on Radio Monitor Charts, subsequently spending 13 weeks there.

Zakes Bantwini has also created an exclusive Isgubhu playlist that features tracks that you’ll find on his heavy rotation playlist. “This playlist for Apple Music is a taste of my world and what gets me going. I’m on the road quite a lot as you can imagine, and I enjoy it particularly when traveling. This playlist is jam-packed with so much talent that the African Dance scene has to offer. I’m sure you’ll love this one and I hope it fuels your productivity!”

Taking over Isgubhu By… for this month is Ghana-born, LA-based DJ and producer, Yaw Appiah. Growing up in Ghana’s bustling city of Tema, Appiah has made it his mission to expose untapped African sounds to the world by drawing from a range of influences. Having made a name for himself fusing Afro-house and tech-house, he undoubtedly fills spaces with infectious vibrations and energies.

“This selection for Apple Music exposes my internal desire to see people globally be free, dance and have a sense of peace. These artists offer amazing variations of African dance and electronic music which individuals globally will always connect to” he explains.

Launched in early 2021, Isgubhu is the definitive home of African Dance and Electronic music on Apple Music and spotlights and elevates the work of African Electronic DJs, producers and creatives. Isgubhu, a Zulu word meaning beat and used to refer to a banging song, pays homage to an evergreen set of genres and the African artists who have played a pivotal role in shaping the Dance and Electronic scene across the world.

Isgubhu also houses a collection of playlists including Spotlight On – a focus on boutique labels like Soul Candi, House Afrika, Stay True Sounds, Uganda’s Hakuna Kulala & Nyege Nyege Tapes, Kenya’s Gondwana KE, and eSwatini’s Antidote Music, as well as Isgubhu Voices – a focus on the best Dance and Electronic tracks that feature vocals.

Listen to Isgubhu only on Apple Music http://apple.co/Isgubhu