Doja Cat – the daughter of South African actor Dumisani Dlamini – has spoken out about being raised by a single mother, who had little to no help from the singer’s father.
The US-born entertainer has previously accused her Sarafina actor dad of being a “deadbeat”, who “abandoned” his family.
Doja – who is billed to perform at the postponed Hey Neighbour concert in December – has yet to meet her father.
DOJA CAT SPEAKS OUT ON ‘TOUGH CHILDHOOD’
Speaking to IRL podcaster Angie Martinez, Doja Cat – real name Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini – gave her fans a glimpse of her private life.
The 28-year-old revealed she was one of five children, born to her mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, who recently starred in her music video, Gorgeous.
“I had a tough childhood….Growing up with a single mother was a hard thing.
“I could never….She is incredible, the strongest mother. She taught me a lot of things and made me in some ways stronger.
Without mentioning her dad, Dumisani Dlamini, Doja Cat added that her mother had “no help” in raising her kids.
Doja added that her mother was her biggest fan.
“She is so supportive and so proud. And she tells me every day”, she added.
‘SHE NEEDS TO MEET HER ANCESTORS’
Doja Cat was born in 1995 to Dumisani Dlamini and his then-partner, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer. After fathering a son, Doja’s brother Raman Dalithando, Dumisani left the US to return home.
In a 2020 interview with Metro FM, Dumisani claimed he had, in fact, attempted to reach out to Doja Cat. However, his efforts were allegedly halted by the singer’s management.
“They don’t want me to connect with her. I have tried to send her messages on social media,” he said.
He added, “I’m looking forward to connecting with her because, as a Zulu girl, she needs to come and meet with her ancestors.”
Images via Instagram: @official_dumisanidlamini/ @frolovheart
Dumisani insisted he was proud of Doja “even before she became a superstar.”
A year earlier, in an interview with Leah Henry and DJ Quicksilva, Doja Cat infamously claimed that she had never met or spoken to her biological father.
She said: “I have never [met him], and he’s on Instagram. And he comments on my pictures sometimes. He’s an incredible dancer and great actor, but yeah, I don’t know him very well”.