As the former lead singer of the pan-African supergroup Freshlyground, Zolani Mahola has shared stages with legends like Stevie Wonder, BB King, Shakira, Hugh Masekela, and Johnny Clegg. Freshlyground, together for 17 years, toured globally, released seven albums, and helped unify a divided nation through their music. In October 2024, Zolani performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of the 30-year celebration of South African democracy.
Zolani is deeply passionate about the natural world and our connection to it. She serves as an ambassador for the Seachange Project, which produced the Oscar-winning documentary *My Octopus Teacher*. Alongside the film’s director, Pippa Ehrlich, she earned the 2024 Independent Nonfiction Audio Storytelling Award at Tribeca Festival for their podcast *Back To The Water*, which delves into the relationships diverse South Africans share with their coastlines.
An award-winning actress, she received the prestigious Fleur Du Cap Award for “Best Actress” for her 2019 one-woman play *The One Who Sings*. In 2020, she collaborated live on stage with Grammy-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma in Cape Town. Her 2021 debut solo album, *Thetha Mama*, won “Best Produced Album” at the 2022 South African Music Awards. Currently, she is working on a new album with her band, The Feminine Force, and is writing a musical based on African goddesses, set to premiere at the Artscape Theatre in 2025.
Zolani’s life and work are also the focus of two upcoming films: one exploring her connection to the natural world, directed by Pippa Ehrlich, and another capturing her life story, both set for release in 2025.