New Zealand soul singer TEEKS has shared his impressions from his first visit to South Africa. Despite arriving in the country for the first time, after staying for over a week, he leaves with a feeling that goes far beyond memories of three concerts.
For this Māori singer-songwriter, whose music, including tracks like 'First Time,' 'Remember Me,' and 'Without You,' has found strong support among listeners in South Africa, the long-awaited visit became an opportunity to experience the country outside of the stage.
TEEKS, whose real name is Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi, arrived in August to conduct his first multi-city tour of South Africa, performing in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. The tour began in Cape Town on August 27, continued in Durban on August 28, and concluded at the Parklive Jozi festival in Johannesburg on August 30.
Previously, before his arrival, TEEKS spoke about the excitement of meeting South African fans who had supported his music from afar. Now, having seen these audiences in person, he notes that it is the love and warmth of the South Africans that will stay with him.
TEEKS tastes Mzansi
His experience in South Africa was not limited to concert venues; the singer sought to immerse himself in the country's culture, including its cuisine. Among the dishes he tried were chicken feet, beef tripe, chakalaka, and pap.
He stated: 'I am open to new experiences and I will try anything once.' Although chicken feet proved challenging due to texture, TEEKS was pleasantly surprised by some other dishes, remarking: 'It was very, very delicious.'
This experience also allowed him to notice cultural similarities and differences between South Africa and his home country, New Zealand.
From All Blacks fan to Springbok fashion
One of the most unexpected moments in South Africa was finding TEEKS on stage wearing Springbok merchandise. The singer, who grew up in New Zealand and has always supported the All Blacks, received a gift—a Springbok sweater. Instead of keeping it as a souvenir, he decided to wear it during a performance.
TEEKS explained that it was his way of expressing gratitude to the country and the people who welcomed him. He said: 'I just feel such gratitude for the country and the people. And I just wanted to pay tribute, you know, and present it.'
Although he has not officially announced a switch to the Springbok camp, his choice of attire has certainly won over South African fans. An interesting aspect was the timing of his visit, which coincided with the rugby rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa.
When asked if he was ready to become a Springbok supporter, TEEKS laughed and left the door slightly open, replying: 'We'll see.'
'It was all love'
Speaking about the main takeaway from his stay in the country, TEEKS noted that the audience reaction exceeded all his expectations. He emphasized: 'Just the love of the people, the warmth and passion, especially at the shows.' He added: 'I think I will remember this for a very long time.'
This connection was particularly significant because it was his first concert in South Africa. Before the tour, TEEKS had already connected with local listeners through his music, with 'First Time' becoming especially popular among the South African public. Thus, his arrival felt less like meeting a completely new audience and more like connecting with people who had already made his music part of their lives.
This acceptance was evident throughout the tour, and the singer admitted he was surprised by how often fans recognized him outside of performances. He recounted: 'People approached me and just introduced themselves and told me how much they love my music, how much they appreciate it,' adding: 'And that means everything to me.'
South African music caught his attention
One of the most interesting parts of TEEKS' visit was discovering South African music beyond the artists he was already familiar with. Before the trip, he expressed interest in collaborating with local musicians and exploring genres like amapiano. During his stay, this interest seemed to intensify.
Although he previously mentioned Lojiso, TEEKS revealed that another South African artist has been on his radar for a long time: Bongizive Mabandla. He stated: 'There is another artist I really like, and maybe I should have mentioned him earlier because I've been listening to him for a while. His name is Bongizive... And yes, he creates amazing, amazing music. I'm such a fan.'
This admiration is noteworthy given the similarity in the two artists' approaches to emotionally rich songwriting, soul, and intimate storytelling. It remains unclear whether this admiration will lead to collaboration, but TEEKS is clearly leaving South Africa with an open ear to what the local music scene offers.
Social media helped TEEKS reach South Africa
For TEEKS, his connection with South African listeners is also an example of how music can transcend geographical boundaries. The singer believes platforms like Instagram and TikTok help artists connect directly with audiences worldwide. He noted: 'Social media is definitely changing the game. I use Instagram and TikTok. I'm still figuring it out as I go.'
Instead of viewing social media as just another polished extension of his career, TEEKS strives to maintain authenticity, especially on TikTok. He says: 'I'm a bit unfiltered on TikTok. I'm just, you know, in the moment and trying to be as authentic as possible there.'
For him, authenticity is ultimately what resonates with the audience. He concludes: 'I think I just need to be myself and be as authentic as possible online.'
'I will return': TEEKS promises to come back
Perhaps the clearest indicator of how much TEEKS enjoyed his time in South Africa was that he stayed in the country longer than planned. Although his tour officially concluded, he spent over a week in the country.
When asked if this extension of his stay showed how much he enjoyed South Africa, he did not hesitate to answer: 'I know, it shows how much I love it here.' His flight was scheduled for Sunday, but TEEKS was already looking past his return flight, stating: 'I will come back. This won't be my last time.'
For an artist who came to South Africa for a debut tour, this could be the biggest compliment. TEEKS came to the country to finally meet the fans who supported him through streams and social media interactions. He leaves having eaten local food, discovered new music, embraced a bit of Springbok culture, and most importantly, personally experienced the warmth of the South African audience. And if his promise comes true, this could only be the beginning of TEEKS' relationship with Mzansi.