Zee Nation Fest 2025: A night of beats, besties and media blues
Ziyawa La! Ziwa Mo! Shwashwi’s got tea on Zee Nation Fest 2025, and honey, it’s a mixed bag of vibes and gripes. Held on Women’s Day, August 9, at Johannesburg’s Nasrec Expo Centre, this day-to-night music extravaganza hosted by Africa’s number one female disc jockey, DJ Zinhle, was billed as the ultimate celebration of music, youth culture and women’s empowerment. And for the most part, it delivered, but not without some serious side-eye moments.
The festival, marking DJ Zinhle’s 21-year milestone in the music industry, was a magnet for party goers across South Africa. With a stellar line-up featuring heavyweights such as Oskido, Lady Du, Zee Nxumalo, Nadia Nakai, Nkosazana Daughter, and DBN Gogo, the energy was electric. Hosted by the ever-charismatic Somizi Mhlongo and Moozlie, the crowd was hyped from noon to the early hours of August 10.
Fans, or should we say “besties”, showed up in their 90s, Pink, Cowboy, Disco, and Y2K-inspired fits, turning Nasrec into a fashion runway. Shwa must admit, the vibe was unmatched, music pulsating, lights dazzling and the crowd living their best lives.
But, darling, let’s spill the real tea. While the festival goers were grooving, the media?
Oh, honey, we were left out in the cold, literally and figuratively! The press corps had to stand the entire night, no seats, no shade, nothing. And hospitality? Non-existent. Not a single bottle of water or a snack in sight for the people who were there to cover this grand affair.
Shwa’s heels were screaming, and the only thing keeping us going was the beat of DJ Zinhle’s set.
For an event celebrating women’s empowerment, you’d think they’d extend some love to the media ladies (and gents) working overtime to amplify the fest.
Zinhle’s influence was undeniable as she curated a line-up that had something for everyone, from ama-piano to hip-hop to gospel with the one and only Nontokozo Mkhize and Sbu Noah. Cutting-edge, darling.
Still, Shwa can’t ignore the whispers of discontent. Some fans grumbled about the steep VVIP package prices, and the treatment of the scribes only added to the drama.
If Zee Nation Fest 2026 wants to keep its crown as Mzansi’s premier music fest, they’ll need to roll out the red carpet for the press too. A little hospitality goes a long way, besties.
Zee Nation Fest 2025 was a triumph for DJ Zinhle and her legion of fans, but a misstep for media relations.
Shwashwi’s giving it a solid 8/10 for the vibes, but a 2/10 for press treatment.
Let’s do better next year, Zee Nation. We’ll be watching and hopefully sitting with the other besties.
