The Doek On Fleek Lifestyle Festival has grown from strength to strength ever since its inception as a Mother’s Day Celebration in 2016.
Founders Thandi Mavata and Lusiwe Mlambo had a vision to start a festival to celebrate femininity in Soweto, providing a safe space for women to let their hair down and enjoy various art forms.
They are looking to keep growing and have enlisted the help of singer, businesswoman and all-around entertainer Naima Kay to go beyond her efforts on stage and be a brand ambassador for the festival.
“I've worked with them before around KZN so when I was asked to go out of the province I was super happy. To be honest, I think sis Thandi was blown away with both my Pietermaritzburg and Richard's Bay's performances ,my respect for the themes of the event and going all out with using a semi-live band,” Naima explains.
She says Thandi and the organisers of Doek On Fleek could see her work ethic from a mile away and this pulled them towards her brand.
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“I am willing to give my best throughout the festival, because I know I was born for this especially entertaining the audience and showing them who Naima Kay is, and to leave a mark on every place I perform at.”
What excites the Afropop singer and songwriter the most about the Doek On Fleek festival is the environment and the vibe.
“I enjoy how people support and attend the event, and I love that they enjoy the old-school music. I also like how they respond to it but all in all whenever I'm there I usually feel like I could rush to the stage because even the Doek On Fleek team is extremely welcoming.”
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She thinks her music is perfectly paired with the festival and what it represents.
“My music relays a message, especially to women. There are a lot of things that happen amongst females because we are very sensitive. We go through a lot of things in terms of being abused and not treated as queens in most cases. Music heals the inner soul after and can help us deal with some of the things we go through.
She seems as invigorated by her involvement with this unique festival.
“The Doek On Fleek Mother's Day edition which will be on the 18th of May I know is going to be a vibe, especially with most of my songs, which I usually dedicate to women specifically.”
She has fond memories attached to her past appearances at the festival.
“Yes, there's quite a lot of memories especially the first Doek On Fleek I did at Durban's ICC. Another one I did was called the Sekwanele Tour which was focused on gender-based violence whereby I even created a song titled Sekwanele about the tour."
Her most cherished memories always involve the people, no matter which event or festival she is booked to perform.
"The Durban Jazz Festival which usually happens each year on the 26th of December at Hazelmere Dam is where I feel most at home because it is strictly live band performances. Cape Town Jazz and Macufe were great memories too, I loved taking to the stage at such prestigious musical concerts,” she recounts.
Naima loves the uninhibited celebration of womanhood that goes hand in hand with this gathering.
"I appreciate that attendees respect the theme. After all, if it's all white they show up in their numbers because they make the event look proper. It becomes so bright. It can feel like a slice of heaven with angels crowded in one place," she giggles.
"It shows how responsive they have become when everyone is singing along that's when you feel the event is running smoothly," she adds.
Aside from the festival scene, Naima is in the lab constructing her next major release, an album which she says is finished.
“We are waiting for a proper date to dish it out to my people, but I've been releasing singles that are going to be part of the album. I've been working one way. Like right now, I'm ready to release two songs which of course I did with Mondli Ngcobo titled Ukukhululana. The other I did with Zawadi Yamangu called Sofa Slahlane which are ready to be dropped on all digital streaming platforms soon. The first song with Mondli will be dropped at the end of May.”
She is looking forward to what the rest of 2024 holds for her.
"All I can say is that I'm thankful to everyone that loves and supports the Naima Kay brand. In Zulu they say 'izandla zendlula ikhanda'. I feel blessed and I'm going to continue blessing them with good music every time. Without them I am nothing and I'm not willing to disappoint them at all," she swears.
