International pop sensation Doja Cat is finally heading to South Africa, with organisers confirming that she will headline the second day of the highly anticipated Hey Neighbour festival this August.
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The three-day music festival, hosted at Legends Adventure Farm in Pretoria, will return from 29 to 31 August 2025, after a year-long hiatus. Doja Cat is the first major act to be announced for this year’s line-up, with other headline performers yet to be revealed.
This appearance will mark the Grammy Award-winning artist’s first-ever performance on South African soil—a significant moment, not only for fans but for the star herself, whose heritage has long connected her to the country.
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A homecoming years in the making
Born Amala Zandile Dlamini, Doja Cat has previously opened up about her South African roots. Her father, actor Dumisani Dlamini, is best known locally for roles in popular productions such as Sarafina!, Yizo Yizo, and Isibaya. Despite their shared heritage, the pair’s relationship has been strained over the years, with Doja publicly speaking about the absence of a strong bond with her father.
Still, her connection to South Africa has remained a source of fascination among local fans. In past interviews, Doja admitted she had never visited the country, citing her busy career and a dislike of long-haul flights as obstacles.
“I still haven’t been. I rely on my career to just throw me out to places. I can fly, but I don’t like flying, especially long flights like that,” she said in a previous conversation with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden.
It seems, however, that 2025 will finally bring her to the country many have long considered her second home.
Hey Neighbour festival returns in full force
The Hey Neighbour festival burst onto the scene in 2023, drawing crowds with a star-studded line-up including Kendrick Lamar, Khalid, and H.E.R. The event skipped 2024 without public explanation, but organisers Glen 21 Entertainment announced its return late last year, with early ticket sales selling out almost immediately.
Doja Cat’s headlining slot on day two of the festival is expected to draw massive local and international crowds. The remainder of the line-up is expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
A proud nod to her roots
Doja Cat has made no secret of her South African pride. In 2023, she turned heads at New York’s Global Citizen Festival when she took to the stage wearing a dress inspired by the South African flag. During her performance, she also used her platform to speak out against global injustice, referencing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and the Congo, and calling for compassion and action.
For many South Africans, Doja Cat’s performance at Hey Neighbour won’t just be another music festival appearance—it’ll be a long-awaited cultural moment, bringing the artist’s personal story full circle.
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Featured Image: Getty
