Grammy-award-winning music producer Zakes Bantwini is the Music Director for the 2026 Metro FM Music Awards.
Image: Supplied
Grammy award-winning music icon, producer Zakes Bantwini, is the Music Director for the 20th Metro FM Music Awards.
His addition to the show will elevate the music excellence theme against the backdrop of a culturally vibrant Durban.
When the “Osama” hitmaker got the call to be a part of the awards ceremony, his first thought was gratitude.
“Not the kind you perform, the kind that settles in your chest and reminds you why you started. I’ve spent my whole life in the service of South African music, so when Metro FM called, it didn’t feel like an opportunity as much as it felt like a responsibility.”
The music producer explained that he said yes because he believes the stage deserves the best version of what we are as a culture. “I wanted to be the one to help tell that story through sound.”
The theme for the 2026 Metro FM Music Awards is “Icon-Inspired Music Excellence,” and Bantwini will be interpreting this through the night’s music selection. “Icons don’t just exist in the past, they live in the music that carries their DNA forward,” he explains.
“My approach is to build a musical journey through the night that honours where we’ve been while celebrating where we are. You’ll hear the roots, you’ll hear the evolution, and you’ll feel the thread that connects them.
“Every transition, every performance arrangement, every sonic moment will be deliberate. The music won’t just fill the room, it will tell the story of South African excellence.”
The Metro FM Music Awards return to Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, after last being held in the province in 2015. Bantwini hails from KwaMashu in KwaZulu-Natal and began his music career.
“Durban has always punched above its weight creatively; it just hasn’t always been given the main stage it deserves,” said Bantwini.
The Metro FM Music Awards, taking place in Durban, plough back into the city’s creative ecosystem. Bantwini reflects that many of the sounds that have moved the world were born right here, in these streets, in these studios.
“Having MMA26 here is validation, but more importantly, it’s infrastructure. It tells the young producer in KwaMashu, the singer in Umlazi, the dancer in the Point that the world is watching your city.
“That matters more than people realise. It opens doors, it attracts investment, and it gives our creatives permission to dream bigger,” adds Bantwini about the value the awards bring.
Over the years, Bantwini has been very vocal about music awards in the country, calling for better support from organisations and artists, and now he gets the opportunity to bring his ideas to the table.
“I’ve always believed that awards should be a celebration, not just a competition. For too long, the conversation has been about who wins rather than what we’re building together.”
Bantwini adds that being in this role gives him the chance to put action behind those words.
“When artists share a stage, collaborate, and pour into each other in front of the country, that’s when you feel the true power of the culture. That’s what I want audiences to take home. Not just a winner’s name, but a feeling.”
The Metro FM Music Awards take place on Saturday, April 25, at the Durban ICC. The MMAs will officially air on SABC 1 and will be available for streaming on SABC + at 20.00pm.
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