Doja Cat’s highly anticipated Move Afrika performance in Pretoria is still the talk of the town, but not entirely for the reasons fans expected.
Instead of the spotlight staying on her electrifying set, attention quickly shifted to the online drama involving her father, South African actor Dumisani Dlamini.
The “Woman” hitmaker, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, has long been candid about her complicated relationship with her father. Over the years, she has openly described him as largely absent during her upbringing in the United States, where she was raised by her mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer.
Dlamini, best known for his role in Sarafina!, has consistently disputed that narrative, maintaining that he was not a “deadbeat” father and suggesting that circumstances, including distance and family dynamics, contributed to their strained bond.
A reunion that wasn’t
Tensions resurfaced during Doja Cat’s recent trip to South Africa for the Move Afrika concert, which many fans had hoped would mark a meaningful homecoming moment for the global star.
Instead, things took a dramatic turn when Doja Cat took to TikTok to share details of a private exchange with her father. According to the Grammy-winning artist, she had invited Dlamini to attend her Pretoria show, but he declined, allegedly telling her that she does not communicate with him enough.
In true Doja Cat fashion, her response added fuel to the fire she joked online that she sent him an explicit link instead of a ticket, a move that quickly went viral and divided fans.
Despite the tension, Dlamini did make his way to the venue, the SunBet Arena in Pretoria. However, the situation escalated further when he later claimed on social media that he was denied access to the show.
He alleged that security removed him from the premises and that his tickets would be refunded, claims that only intensified public interest in the unfolding family drama. Dlamini did not hold back in his response, accusing his daughter of being influenced by her mother and suggesting that people close to her have deliberately kept them apart.
His comments added another layer to an already complicated story, with both father and daughter choosing to air their grievances in the public eye.
IOL
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.
