Viral Street Musician Kutlwano Yika Turns Nationwide Street Performances Into Fan-Powered Touring Journey
Germiston / Cape Town, South Africa — February 2026
Kutlwano Kenneth Yika, a 27-year-old street musician based in Germiston, Gauteng, has spent years performing across towns and cities in South Africa, from busy traffic intersections to public spaces, building a national following long before his recent viral rise on social media.
Now, after gaining widespread online attention for his performances, Yika is converting that visibility into direct community support through a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign aimed at expanding his live performances even further.
Launched 12 days ago, Yika’s campaign, Travel the World With Me, has raised over R15 000 from 10 unique donors toward a R150 000 goal. The funds will support travel, fuel, and basic touring costs, allowing him to continue performing in South African towns and cities he has already visited, while also reaching new audiences locally and internationally.
“Being a street musician has helped get me the recognition I need, whether through word of mouth or social media,” Yika says. “It’s helped with my growth, particularly performing at the highest level, knowing how to read the mood and project my voice.”
A Career Built on Movement and Consistency
Long before viral videos brought him global attention, Yika travelled between towns across South Africa, busking daily and refining his craft in unpredictable environments.
“I focused on what I was doing before integrating social media, busking every single day all over Gauteng and beyond,” he explains. “That consistency is what shaped me.”
Street performance, however, has not always been met with understanding.
“Performing at traffic lights is never something people expect,” Yika says. “I’ve been misunderstood or viewed as an imposter, people thinking I’m lip-syncing, because of how unique my approach is.”
Despite this, his performances began resonating far beyond the street corners where they started. His international, nostalgic song choices, paired with a distinctive vocal style, attracted online viewers who stayed.
“The music is international and nostalgic, that’s a winner on its own,” he says. “But I think my voice and style of singing is what sold me to the world.”
Virality With Perspective
While social media has amplified his reach, Yika remains cautious about its impact.
“Being viral helps with people reaching out,” he says, “but it can also be detrimental. New people sometimes expect an overnight success story.”
Instead, he has used platforms like TikTok livestreaming as a tool, not a shortcut, to sustain his work.
“My livestreams help add more money to sustain my brand and living needs,” he says, “but the foundation is still live performance.”
Community Support Across Borders
The campaign’s donor base reflects Yika’s growing national and international reach, with contributions from South Africa and abroad.
“Hope to see you in the UAE! ❤️” wrote Tiffany Govender, who donated R2,000.
“Good luck, looking forward to meeting you in person,” wrote Barbara, contributing US$100.
“Live the dream,” added Wizard LFC, a repeat donor to the campaign.
For Yika, these messages reinforce his belief in community-driven careers.
“I serve a purpose,” he says. “I entertain, and my supporters love great talent. They also support other acts online, but they get to spend more time with me.”
“Travel the World With Me”
For Kutlwano Yika, this campaign is more than fundraising, it’s an invitation.
“People always have certain views of success and progress,” he says. “Taking this decision now feels right, it shows growth for my work and my brand.”
Through Travel the World With Me, Yika is asking supporters to help rewrite what success looks like for independent artists, not as overnight fame, but as a journey powered by community.
“It helps change the narrative of a struggling artist,” he explains. “Music stars are what they are because of financial support from their fans.”
Each contribution helps put fuel in the tank, move the music from one town to the next, and turn years of grassroots street performances across South Africa into a global journey, one city, one crowd, and one song at a time.
For those who’ve ever stopped at a traffic light, scrolled past a video, or believed in raw talent, Yika’s message is simple: travel the world with me, and be part of where the music goes next.
To support Kutlwano, visit his BackaBuddy campaign link here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/travel-the-world-with-me
Watch his performance here: