Africa Yard’s ‘Wakhetha Mina’ takes TikTok by storm
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday March 9, 2026 09:20
The love song, which is a fusion of Zulu and Ndebele languages, has been trending heavily on TikTok with its catchy 3-step Afro house beat and heartfelt lyrics resonating with listeners across the region. The band, which comprises three talented artists: a drummer named Tezani Chivoto, also known as Catel, percussionist Ronald Koko (Rony), and a DJ, Donald Koko, popularly known as Dony'k, is trending on social media with their new hit. African Yard's new song, which is a love song in Zulu and Ndebele, 'Wakhetha Mina', which means 'you choose me', speaks about love. Speaking to Arts and Culture, Golide said that the song is a dedication to love. He stated that he is super good at writing love songs. 'So I just wrote the song for anyone who has found a good partner after a long struggle, and the relationship is flowing nicely.
But I can say it's as if I have a new, nice relationship and things are going well, so I'm shining with it,' he said. He illustrated that the drumline of the instrumental has an African Yard touch of 3-step Afro house music with an infusion of Amapiano style and Afro house music. For his part, Catel said that they met Golide on social media and started talking about making a song together. 'After we agreed to collaborate, we sent him a beat, and the beat was very good, which challenged him to be more creative. He wrote the song, recorded his vocals, and sent them back so that we could finish the production,' he added.
He stated that before releasing the full song, they shared a short clip of one verse on TikTok. According to Catel, the response was amazing, and people really connected with it, which showed them there was something special about the project. He indicated that they truly believe this is just the beginning, and they're looking forward to working on more tracks together. The talented artist also said that their fans should expect a lot from their upcoming projects. He stated that their aim is to release hit after hit until the end of this year, plus a short tour to launch their music live from the beginning of April. Speaking about 'Wakhetha Mina', the talented Catel said that the message of this song will inspire a lot of their fans and people out there individually, since the song is all about love.
'We have discovered that the song is trending at a high pace on TikTok, which means they love it and accept it because of its message,' he said. He said that since the glimpse of the song, they've been receiving calls and messages from international artists seeking music collaboration. 'We're still shocked, and this shows that we're digging hard when it comes to music production, and it's something that never happens. It just shows that we're on the right track,' he continued. Catel also said that they have a schedule to hit the studio during the week, which is twice a week, but it depends on the projects they're working on. He also revealed that they're super focused and don't want to lose track of their talents by indulging in drugs and alcohol abuse, which has destroyed many talents.
'One thing about African Yard we want to give back to the community we serve. We have decided to uplift upcoming artists from our next projects by engaging vocalists and producers who have talent but have never been given a chance to showcase their skills,' he continued. In the meantime, he said that they'll continue connecting with their fans through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, X, and WhatsApp groups. African Yard Live Band is a music group based in Botswana, known for blending traditional African rhythms with modern styles. They often perform at local events, cultural festivals, and community gatherings, playing genres like Afro house music, Amapiano, and Afro tech music. The band's name, African Yard, reflects their connection to the cultural significance of the African Yard, where community and music come together. Additionally, the band is popular for bringing people together through music, often performing in lively settings that capture the spirit of Botswana's vibrant culture.