{"id":13117,"date":"2025-10-22T09:43:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T07:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wedodis.co.za\/news\/?p=13117"},"modified":"2025-10-22T09:43:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T07:43:16","slug":"zakes-bantwini-addresses-music-hiatus-amid-royalty-disputes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wedodis.co.za\/news\/zakes-bantwini-addresses-music-hiatus-amid-royalty-disputes\/","title":{"rendered":"Zakes Bantwini Addresses Music Hiatus Amid Royalty Disputes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Zakes<\/p>\n

Zakes Bantwini<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Zakes Bantwini has shared that his rise to fame and success in music came with significant personal sacrifices, leading him to exit the music scene for several years.<\/p>\n

During a conversation on Gagasi FM with Sphe, DJ Naves, and Selbeyonce, the Grammy-winning musician expressed that the recognition and accomplishments he achieved in music often strained his relationships with fellow artists.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt every song I make, I make an enemy,\u201d he shared. \u201cBecause the success of a song iyasixabanisa [creates conflict], royalties and not seeing eye to eye bring other people into our friendship and success.\u201d<\/p>\n

The artist behind the hit Osama<\/em> mentioned that the emotional toll stemming from ongoing conflicts regarding royalties and acknowledgment prompted him to distance himself from the music industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI stopped making music; that\u2019s why I went to Sony Music. I was like, \u2018This thing is hurting me. It\u2019s making me more enemies than it\u2019s making me [happy or successful],\u2019\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Zakes took a hiatus from 2016 to 2019 to prioritize his well-being before returning to music, a decision that led to his achievement of a Grammy in 2023 for Bayethe<\/em> in collaboration with Wouter Kellerman and Nomcebo Zikode.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n