Doja Cat Calls First Africa Trip Nerve-Racking
The rapper described her first visit to Africa, which included Rwanda and Johannesburg, as scary but ultimately amazing.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Africa
Doja Cat said her first trip to Africa was nerve-racking but amazing, speaking on The Jennifer Hudson Show. She visited Rwanda and South Africa and later performed at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria in March 2026.
Why it matters
The trip carried personal weight given her South African heritage through her father, a connection the rapper has discussed publicly. Her performance was part of Global Citizen's Move Afrika initiative, linking the visit to a broader effort around the continent.
The account comes from the artist's own description on The Jennifer Hudson Show, with the Pretoria concert in March 2026 as the documented event. Details of the Rwanda leg and length of stay were not specified in the source.
The players
Doja Cat
American rapper and singer known for hits including "Say So" and "Kiss Me More," born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini.
Dumisani Dlamini
South African actor and dancer who appeared as Crocodile in the musical film Sarafina!, and is the father of Doja Cat.
Global Citizen
International advocacy organization that campaigns on global poverty and sponsored the Move Afrika initiative featuring the Pretoria performance.
The details
Doja Cat, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, travelled from Rwanda to Johannesburg during her first visit to Africa. She has said she was raised mainly by her American mother, artist and designer Deborah Sawyer, and in 2023 told Apple Music she had never met her South African father, actor and dancer Dumisani Dlamini.
Timeline
2023: Doja Cat said in an Apple Music interview that she had never met her father in person.
May 2024: She described her father as a "deadbeat" in her X biography.
March 2026: She performed at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria as part of Global Citizen's Move Afrika initiative.
November 9, 2026: She discussed her first Africa trip on The Jennifer Hudson Show.
Industry Context
Global Citizen's Move Afrika initiative pairs high-profile musicians with concerts in South Africa, and the March 2026 SunBet Arena show is one of its featured events. Doja Cat's visit adds an artist with direct family ties to the country to that campaign's roster.
Travellers interested in visiting Rwanda or South Africa can look at the itineraries the artist described, which moved from Rwanda to Johannesburg. Planning around major concert dates in Pretoria, such as the Move Afrika show, can help secure accommodation and transport in advance.
The takeaway
Artists with family roots abroad often bring a personal dimension to their visits, and this trip shows how heritage can shape the experience of travel. For readers, it is a reminder that a destination can carry meaning well beyond its tourist highlights.
Further reading
Explore more on Africa travel destinations and the places artists are visiting across the continent.
