Celebrity News
Lauryn Hill’s South African Visit Shows Why the DStv Delicious Festival Still Matters
Lauryn Hill’s appearance at this year’s DStv Delicious Festival could have played out like any other major international booking, arriving, rehearsing, performing, then flying out. Instead, her time in Johannesburg unfolded in a way that made South Africans pay attention to more than just the setlist.
After returning home, Hill posted a detailed reflection on her visit. What stood out immediately was her decision to open with an apology in isiZulu. It came across as her recognising the people she was speaking to. From there, she went straight into the parts of the trip that stayed with her, and the picture she painted was far more textured than a typical “thank you, Joburg” message.
Photo: Google
Hill spent time with Ndaba Mandela and members of his family, which she described as grounding and informative. It gave her a clearer sense of the country’s cultural present, not in a ceremonial way, but through straightforward conversations. For someone who rarely explains her movements publicly, the detail in her post hinted at how seriously she engaged with the people she met here.
Her sons, Zion and YG Marley, were active throughout the weekend as well. Together, they teamed up with Grade Africa for a merchandise pop-up. The collaboration wasn’t treated like a quick branding moment. Hill said she took the opportunity to learn from the designers and young creatives involved, and that those discussions mattered to her. It was one of the few times a visiting global artist treated a local fashion partnership as something more than a photo opportunity.
Photo: Google
Hill’s styling choices also drew attention, mainly because they were so specific to the country she was in. She wore a red-and-black Sotho-inspired suit designed by Thebe Magugu, complete with feather detailing and an Isicholo-style headpiece. Her vocalists and dancers wore MaXhosa Africa. These weren’t token nods to local fashion; they were deliberate choices that placed South African designers squarely in view of an international audience.
Photo: Google
Her daughter Sara added another dimension to the trip by visiting a Johannesburg school during their stay. Hill mentioned the visit briefly but clearly, saying it stood out for her family. It was the kind of moment that didn’t show up on festival cameras but still shaped her experience of the city.
When Hill finally took the stage, the festival crowd responded the way you’d expect for someone of her stature. The performance included Wyclef Jean and appearances from her sons, giving the set a mix of nostalgia and a passing of the torch. Festival-goers had waited years for a moment like that, and Hill acknowledged the energy she received from the audience.
Photo: Google
What made her post interesting wasn’t only what she said, but how she said it. She spoke plainly about what she saw, who she met, and what she hoped to return for. That honesty made South Africans feel that she wasn’t just passing through.
For the festival and for Hill, the weekend ended up being more than a booking on a poster. It became a reminder of why international artists still look to South Africa for genuine engagement and why South Africans expect that respect in return.
