Zolani Mahola is a South African Storyteller – she is a singer, an actress, an Inspiration Speaker and an agent for social change. Zolani Mahola aka The One Who Sings Born in Port Elizabeth in 1981, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town where she met musicians with whom she would […]
Zolani Mahola is a South African Storyteller – she is a singer, an actress, an Inspiration Speaker and an agent for social change. Zolani Mahola aka The One Who Sings
Born in Port Elizabeth in 1981, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town where she met musicians with whom she would later form pan-African multi-cultural multi-genre band Freshly Ground in 2002.
17 years and 7 albums later Freshly Ground has gone on to become a household name in South Africa and is one of Africa’s most acclaimed and successful bands. They have captured the heart of the continent and have also claimed global recognition.
One highlight of their near two decade career was a collaboration with pop superstar Shakira with whom they recorded the official song for the FIFA World Cup 2010 and performed it at the opening and closing ceremony for a global audience of over a billion people. The band has to date opened stages for and collaborated with such artists as Stevie Wonder, BB King, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Robbie Williams, Oliver Mtukudzi, Vusi Mahlasela and Busi Mhlongo to name but a few.
Zolani Mahola is well loved and respected by South Africans for unifying the country through music and bridging social, racial and cultural divides. As an artist, she explores themes of identity and belonging and she shares a message of individual agency and responsibility.
She firmly believes that though we are all connected and have much in common, “our individual stories are unique; we must be curious about them, to find the reason we were put on this planet and to realise our full expression.”
She has been a judge on the acapella show The Sing-Off (2009) and guest judge on Idols (2010) and The Voice (2016), encouraging uniqueness and a good work ethic in the contestants. She sang the lead in a new South African musical “Calling Me Home” (2017) at Joburg Theatre.
Recently collaborated with Zip Zap Circus School, for whom Zolani Mahola is an ambassador and board member, and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra at Joburg Theatre in the boundary breaking production“ Journey Beyond” (2019).
Zolani is passionate about sharing her experience for the good of her community and has expanded her portfolio to include what she terms Inspiration Talks. In these talks she shares intimately about her life story, challenges and wins … encouraging others to investigate their own stories and to share them too. She believes that this sharing and listening leads to empathy and will lead to healing pain caused by division in our societies globally.
Zolani Mahola is currently recording her debut solo material with Grammy nominated producer JB Arthur who, together with acclaimed bass player Victor Sibusiso Masondo produced Freshly Ground’s biggest selling album to date.
She will release the material in the latter part of 2019. The artist is also currently developing a theatrical production called “The One Who Sings” which will see its debut release staged at the Baxter theatre in Cape Town in November 2019. 2020 will find Zolani staging the production all over the country as well as globally.
The next phase of Zolani Mahola’s career will see her staging her musical productions in concert halls, auditoriums, concert spaces and theatres the world over as the world joyfully discovers The Next Chapter of this global icon.
Contact us at Speakers Inc and follow us on Facebook
In order to view the below you must be logged in.
Rob Caskie shares his Stories of human trials and triumphs never go out of vogue, and mesmerising storyteller extraordinaire, with his walking stick and trademark shorts, brings them alive like no other.
Stafford Masie is a computer scientist who has been involved in the IT industry for more than 25 years. He has been closely involved in such pre-eminent ICT companies as Telkom, Dimension Data, Novell and Google. His passion for technology led to him being appointed to senior executive positions at Novell USA (based in Utah for 7 years) […]
Just 6 – Conference Band are an Afro-Pop/Soul, Jazz and Gospel Contemporary Acapella male ensemble from South Africa which was founded in 2011. A unique combination of voices that comes from a diverse walk of life, they have come together to birth to what they call ‘Afrocal-play’ (African Vocal Play), a distinct mixture of African […]
Bryan Miles stands as one of the foremost exponents in the extraordinary fields of psychology and illusion. His mastery of Mentalism, Magic, Hypnosis, and the recreation of Psychic Ability creates a mesmerizing experience for audiences worldwide. However, unlike many performers in his field, Bryan takes a refreshingly grounded approach, never attempting to convince his audience […]
Ziyanda Ngcobo is a seasoned senior politics reporter at Newzroom Afrika, where her insightful coverage and incisive commentary on political affairs have solidified her reputation as a respected broadcaster and moderator. With a career deeply rooted in journalism, Ziyanda’s journey began at VOW FM (Voice of Wits), marking the inception of what would evolve into […]
Kriya Gangiah first became known to the South African public in 2007 when she joined the TUKS FM team. It did not take long for the (then) 17 year olds career to take off. In only three years, listeners could enjoy their lunchtime with Kriya as she hosted the ‘Out to Lunch’ show every weekday […]
Aki Kalliatakis is a distinguished professional speaker renowned for his expertise in customer care, sales strategies, and as a dynamic conference speaker. With a dedicated focus on enhancing customer experiences and driving sales growth, Aki has invested significant time and effort in developing and delivering impactful courses tailored for managers and supervisors across various organizations. […]
Chris Bertish is a renowned professional speaker, ocean pioneer, and international best-selling author whose extraordinary feats have captivated audiences worldwide. With a spirit as boundless as the ocean itself, Chris exemplifies courage, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of dreams against all odds. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming a global icon for adventure and […]
No results available
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.
Our Mission
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel