DJ Zinhle champions female unity at Women's Day Festival
A strong believer in community and the strength of women, this year the DJ elevates the standard in the celebration of sisterhood.
She says shared experiences among friends are important for the growth of friendships.
DJ Zinhle, whose given name is Ntombezinhle Jiyane, is levelling up her Zee Nation Fest, now in its second year, taking place on Women's Day, 9 August, at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg. She calls the festival 'Bestieval' – a fitting name from someone passionate about creating experiences that celebrate sisterhood and friendship.
She believes in the strength of women, saying the 'women hate each other' narrative has never been true in her experience, because of the support that her network of women has always given her.
We all preparing for ZeeNationFest right while jamming to #ZeenationVol1. I cannot believe that it's really going down on the 9th of August . This festival is for the books it will feature various musicians and genres. https://t.co/nc4H0DY7P8 https://t.co/unHcyBNK3A 🔥🙏🏼😇 pic.twitter.com/39Kh7zhBPi
— Sakhs_Mass_ (@Sakhs_Mass_) August 1, 2025
'We support each other, and I think it's important to push sisterhood, which is what my brand has always been about,' the DJ explains.
I've always been passionate about women empowerment. When I first started as a DJ, I felt like I didn't have that sisterhood because there were so many men. So, I wanted to create that environment. When Cndo and I first started our careers, we knew that we needed each other, and we wanted to mirror this to younger artists and show them that it's not true that women don't get along.
DJ Zinhle
She speaks fondly of DJ Cndo (Sindisiwe Zungu), her creative counterpart who is no longer as visible in the public eye, as if to remind people where everything began, and to ensure that her friend and colleague's name does not disappear completely.
Some of the headlining women this year include Mawhoo, Zee Nxumalo, Makhadzi, Kamo Mphela and Busiswa, to name but a few.
@DJZinhle at the media launch in Fourways says, curating #ZeeNation is about respecting her fans bcs if she must convince you to leave your comfortable home, she MUST make it worth your while. @City_Press pic.twitter.com/V8G9Xuuw5L
— Women Love Each Other (@mbathambali493) August 1, 2025
She recalls being emotional when hearing that Makhadzi had reached out to her team, asking to participate in the festival. 'It's one thing to say, Makhadzi, please come to my event but when she is the one to call you, that was a miracle.'
Her family has been instrumental in the build-up to the event in how they helped with the skits. DJ Zinhle shares how her family has always been important to her, explaining that she wishes that her father, who passed away in 2010, was still around to witness her journey, as he was the one who had instilled these values in her.
ZEE NATION FEST DRESS CODE THEMES Which one will you be rocking? 1. Carnival 2. Into Thw Wild or 3. Pink
Posted by DJ ZINHLE on Monday, June 30, 2025
She further explains that the festival has been curated in such a way that the guests feel like family.
'We are besties,' she says. 'My brand has always been rooted in the spirit of community. We feel like we know each other, and my fans and followers do so much more for me than they realise. This is also a way to remind them that we can do amazing things together.'
With several international acts performing in the country on the same day, there were questions about whether Zee Nation would draw a strong turnout.
There was a little panic, but I was like, Zee Nation is a proudly South African festival, and we want to keep the money here, we want to empower the artists here. As a South African artist myself, I understand the struggle here at home. I want to create a platform that elevates local brands.
DJ Zinhle
For DJ Zinhle, shared experiences among friends strengthen safety nets.
Some may say that different personalities of women in the same space may result in squabbles, but for her this is where the sisterhood's support shines through.
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