Grammy-winning recording artist Doja Cat, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, revealed on The Jennifer Hudson Show that her first visit to Africa—spanning Rwanda and South Africa—left her initially frightened before turning into an amazing experience.
The journey to the continent carried deep personal weight for the chart-topping star due to her South African heritage and her estranged relationship with her father. iol.co.za reported that the trip included her March performance at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria for Global Citizen’s Move Afrika initiative.
Doja Cat Felt Anxiety About Visiting Africa
Doja Cat explained to host Jennifer Hudson that tracing her family lineage back to her father’s side made the initial leg of the tour intimidating. “So half of my family is from Africa, like my father’s side,” she stated on the program.
The singer admitted that her lack of prior travel to the region bred heavy anxiety. “So it was kind of nerve-racking considering my history, but I just know that, like, I started in Rwanda and I was like, I don’t know what it’s gonna be like. Yeah, and, you know, did my best, but it was nerve-racking,” she added.
That early apprehension melted away once her entourage arrived in Gauteng. “It was scary the first time that I got there and then we went to Johannesburg and it was amazing. It was, I love Johannesburg,” she told Hudson, according to iol.co.za.
Doja Cat Discusses Her Relationship with Her Father
Behind the arena stage lights lies a well-documented family dynamic involving her father. The sources note a family dynamic involving her father.
In a 2023 interview with Apple Music presenter Ebro Darden, Doja noted that she had never met her father face-to-face despite acknowledging his artistic talent. Tensions surfaced publicly in May 2024 when she updated her X biography to read, “My dad’s a deadbeat, but I did well,” as reported by iol.co.za.
| Event / Milestone | Location / Platform | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Move Afrika Performance | SunBet Arena, Pretoria | Marked Doja Cat’s arrival in South Africa in March 2026. |
| Apple Music Interview | Apple Music (2023) | Doja discussed never meeting her father in person with Ebro Darden. |
| X Biography Update | Social Media (May 2024) | The singer publicly addressed her estrangement from her father. |
| Television Appearance | The Jennifer Hudson Show | Doja detailed her emotional reactions to visiting Rwanda and Johannesburg. |
The trip combined a high-profile international concert appearance with a long-delayed visit to her paternal homeland.
