South Africa’s Via Mzansi collective tackles gambling, GBV, drug abuse in new songs

A collective of 19 South African artists is preparing to release three songs that confront gambling addiction, gender-based violence and drug addiction. The tracks are the output of a skills development and job-creation programme for emerging music professionals called Via Mzansi.

The project brings together final-year students from the Academy of Sound Engineering (ASE), many of whom already release music independently. Its lead single, ‘Spina’, takes its name from the spinning of a roulette wheel and examines gambling addiction, particularly amid the growth of online betting in South Africa. The other two songs are ‘What’s Wrong With The World?’, which addresses gender-based violence, and ‘Happy Boy’, which focuses on drug addiction.

Studio placement and training

The artists were placed at Jazzworx, a Dolby Atmos-accredited production studio in Bryanston, Johannesburg, through a national employment initiative funded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) via its Social Employment Fund. The programme was delivered in partnership with the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF), which serves as the fund’s Strategic Implementing Partner.

The placement gave participants practical experience in a professional studio environment, including training in spatial audio and Dolby Atmos delivery. These skills remain relatively rare among entry-level music professionals in South Africa.

Creative output and social themes

The Via Mzansi initiative combines employment and skills development with creative production. It enables participating students to apply their training in a professional setting while producing music that addresses social issues affecting South African communities.

Standout contributors to the project are expected to be announced individually ahead of the release.