When Doja Cat steps onto the stage in Pretoria, it won’t feel like a regular international tour stop. It will feel like a return. Born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, the artist’s connection to South Africa, through her father, Dumisani Dlamini, has remained a quiet part of her global image. This concert brings it forward, in a setting that reflects both personal significance and wider industry goals.

The Pretoria show marks her first time performing in South Africa, a detail that has raised anticipation. For fans, it follows earlier missed opportunities for local performances. For the artist, it is presented as a cultural return instead of a standard debut.

Doja Cat – Instagram

The event itself, Move Afrika, differs from a typical concert series. Led by Global Citizen, it is designed as a long-term touring platform linking global artists with African cities while building local production capacity. The Pretoria edition follows Kigali, forming part of a broader plan to establish a pan-African circuit that supports jobs, skills development and creative industries.

The concert takes place on March 20 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, with doors opening earlier in the evening and the main show expected to begin around 8pm. The arena scale shapes the production. Move Afrika events have been built around international staging standards while relying heavily on local crews, over 90% in previous editions. That balance defines the production quality: global-level sound and visuals, executed through local expertise.

Doja Cat – Instagram

Doja Cat’s current tour cycle, tied to her 2025 album Vie, features tightly structured, high-energy setlists that move between rap-driven tracks and melodic pop records. Expect a sequence built around songs like “Paint the Town Red,” “Woman,” and “Agora Hills,” alongside earlier hits that remain part of her live shows. Her performances typically focus on pacing and transitions rather than extended crowd interaction. That approach keeps momentum high and allows for quick shifts between moods, something that translates well in arena settings.

Visually, her recent shows have kept staging controlled: lighting-led transitions, sharp costume changes, and choreography that supports the music. For Pretoria, the production is expected to maintain that structure, but with added significance given the context of the performance.

Doja Cat – Instagram

Move Afrika’s model means the night won’t be built around a single artist. Local and regional acts are expected to be part of the lineup, reflecting the initiative’s focus on integrating African talent into global touring frameworks. Behind the scenes, the event supports a wider system, employment for technicians, designers, stage crews and vendors. The organisers have positioned each show as both a live event and an economic initiative, linking entertainment to longer-term industry growth.

Global touring in Africa is shifting. Instead of one-off festival appearances, structured touring circuits are beginning to take shape. Move Afrika is one of the clearest examples of that transition, and Pretoria is a test of how sustainable that model can be.

Doja Cat – Instagram

For Doja Cat, the context is more direct but still significant. The performance brings together her identity, audience and timing in a way her previous tours have not required. Reflecting on her involvement with Move Afrika, she said through Global Citizen, “I’m proud to be part of something that celebrates Africa’s creativity, invests in its future, and shows the world that Africa isn’t coming, it’s already here.” It is a show that combines personal significance with industry strategy, one that will be assessed both for performance and its wider significance. The expectation goes beyond a strong set, pointing to a performance that reflects both her background and Africa’s growing live music platform.

A private screening of the film Michael reportedly exposed tensions within the Jackson family after Janet Jackson and her brother Jermaine Jackson disagreed over how their brother Michael Jackson is portrayed in the biopic.

The screening took place in Los Angeles and was attended by more than 60 members of the Jackson family and close associates. The project has received attention partly because the lead role is played by Jaafar Jackson, who portrays his uncle in his first major acting role.

Janet Jackson – Instagram

According to media reports, the mood during the screening was initially positive as family members watched scenes depicting Michael Jackson’s early years performing with his brothers before his rise to global pop stardom.

The tone reportedly changed once the film ended and conversations about the production began. Sources present at the event said Janet Jackson expressed strong reservations about the film, questioning the acting, the make-up design and how parts of Michael Jackson’s life were depicted.

Sources said her criticism was unusually direct for a private family gathering, criticising several scenes and raising concerns about the accuracy of the story.

Jermaine Jackson – Instagram

Jermaine Jackson, who has been involved in the project and whose son plays the lead role, reportedly responded by defending the film. He pushed back against his sister’s comments and argued that the film is a tribute to their brother.

The exchange reportedly caused tension among relatives who had expected the screening to be a celebratory preview rather than a debate over the film’s accuracy. Some reports described the disagreement as a heated argument that briefly disrupted the gathering.

The biopic Michael is one of the most expensive films made about the singer, with a reported budget of about $155 million. The production follows Michael Jackson’s life from his childhood in Gary, Indiana, through his rise to global fame.

Jaafar Jackson – Instagram

Casting Jaafar Jackson has been a key part of the film. Some viewers have pointed to his resemblance to his uncle and his ability to recreate many of the singer’s stage movements and performance style.

The film arrives at a time when Michael Jackson’s legacy continues to generate debate, particularly around how different periods of his life should be portrayed.

The reported disagreement at the screening has increased attention on the film as its release approaches.

Jill Scott has announced her “To Whom This May Concern” World Tour, returning to the stage globally. The tour follows her newly released album.

The 36-date tour that will take place in North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Africa. The shows will start on June 4, 2026 in Nashville, United States.  South Africa will be the final destination, where she will perform in Pretoria and Cape Town in November.

Jill Scott:Getty Images

In announcing the tour, Scott emphasized the importance of live performance and connecting with fans. She explained that music is meant to be experienced together. The concerts will feature live band arrangements and musical moments

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The North American leg  include stops in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. After completion, Scott will travel to Europe and the United Kingdom before continuing to Africa.

Photo: Instagram

Ticket sales will be in stages, starting with artist presales before general public access. Major touring partners are supporting the production, which shows the international appeal of this concert.

Jill Scott: Getty images

Asides from promoting new music, the tour also celebrates Scott’s enduring legacy in soul and R&B music. Since her debut in 2000, she has earned multiple awards for her music. With the “To Whom This May Concern” tour, Scott will perform for audiences worldwide.