South African musician Donald has weighed in on the ongoing conversations around performance timeslots, offering a candid take on why artists should focus more on delivering a great show than getting caught up in industry politics.
Small industry reminder: being scheduled earlier in a lineup isn’t a snub.
Promoters often place their strongest crowd-pullers early to get people through the gates sooner, not later.
Artists also juggle multiple shows a day, so routing and timing matter more than ego.
— Sibu Mabena (@sibumabena) January 10, 2026
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the hitmaker dismissed the idea that an early timeslot is a disadvantage, stressing that what truly matters is whether the crowd is present and engaged.
Donald shared that throughout his career, he has performed early slots on numerous occasions and used them as an opportunity to set the tone for the entire event.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with getting an early timeslot, as long as the crowd is there,” he wrote, adding that he always makes sure to peak the show early.
With his signature confidence, Donald jokingly remarked that artists who perform after him often have a tough act to follow.
The singer also warned fellow musicians against getting dragged into behind-the-scenes politics, saying such distractions can take away from what matters most, the performance itself.
According to Donald, focusing on stagecraft and audience connection is far more important than worrying about billing order.
In the same tweet, Donald took a moment to give flowers to rapper Blackie, praising him as one of the best performers of his generation.
He noted that only a few artists can truly match Blackie’s energy and presence on stage.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with getting an early timeslot, as long as the crowd is there, ask around, Ive done early slots so many times in my career and I make sure I peak the show early, you’ll struggle if you’re coming after Donald 😂 that’s what it’s about, don’t…
— DONITO (@DonaldInDenial) January 10, 2026