Cotton Fest 2022: Over 130 Local Acts Confirmed for Johannesburg Festival
Updated: September 17, 2026
Two-Day Festival Celebrating South African Music, Fashion & Youth Culture
Cotton Fest 2022 was set to bring more than 130 South African artists to Johannesburg for its third edition, with the two-day festival scheduled for April 23 and 24, 2022 at The Station in Newtown.
The festival’s full lineup was announced following the postponement of its original March dates after the death of Cotton Fest founder Rikhado “Riky Rick” Makhado in February 2022. Organisers subsequently confirmed that the festival would go ahead in April, with the event becoming an important celebration of the culture and community Riky Rick had built around Cotton Fest.
The 2022 edition brought together established names and emerging talent across South African Hip Hop, Amapiano, house and other local sounds, spread across three stages.
Cotton Fest 2022 Lineup
The confirmed lineup featured more than 130 acts, including AKA, A-Reece, 25K, Abidoza, Big Zulu, Blxckie, Boity, Cassper Nyovest, Costa Titch, Emtee, Kamo Mphela, Kwesta, Mas Musiq, Nasty C, Nadia Nakai, Pabi Cooper, Sjava, Shekhinah, Sir Trill, Uncle Waffles, Young Stunna and Zakes Bantwini, among many others.
Full Lineup
- 031 Choppa
- 2Shoes
- 25K
- A-Reece
- Abidoza
- AKA
- Amaroto and Beast
- Banques
- Benny Chill
- Big Zulu
- Blxckie
- Boity
- Busta 929
- Candii
- Cassper Nyovest
- Champagne69
- Champuru Makhenso
- Ch’cco
- Ciza
- Costa Titch
- Cye
- D Double D
- Da Capo
- Daliwonga
- Dee Koala
- Distruction Boyz
- DJ Fae Fae
- DJ Kaymo
- DJ Lag
- DJ Slim BLVD
- DJ Wobbly
- DJ Zan-D
- Dr Peppa
- Dream Team
- EddieSoulWorld
- Emtee
- Espiquet
- FeloTee & Myztro
- FIF_LAAA
- FLVME
- Frank Casino
- Gemini Major
- Good Guy Styles
- Hopemasta
- Heavy K
- Indigo Stella
- J Molley
- Jazziq
- Junior De Rocka
- Just Mo
- Jägermeister Brass Cartel
- Kamo Mphela
- KashCPT
- KayGee The Vibe
- Khanyisa
- Khuli Chana
- Kid X
- Kiki x Chucky
- KLY
- KP Illest
- Kwesta
- Lady Du
- Legendary Crispy
- Le Soul
- LesediTheDJ
- Leehleza & Lolo
- Leezy Lindokuhle
- Lord Kez
- Lucasraps
- LVee
- Magleradoeboy
- MajorSteez
- Marcus Harvey
- Mas Musiq
- Money Badoo
- Moozlie
- Ms Cosmo
- Msaki
- Musa Keys
- Mustbedubz
- Mzu M
- Nadia Nakai
- Nasty C
- No Comply
- Nobantu Vilakazi
- NotBenjamin
- Okmalumkoolkat
- Oscar Mbo
- Pabi Cooper
- PH
- Phantom Steeze
- Priddy Prince
- Priddy Ugly
- Ricky Tyler
- Robot Boii
- Rouge
- Scumie
- Sean Kross
- Semi Tee, Kamu Dee & Ma Lemon
- Shane Eagle
- Shekhinah
- ShouldBeYuang
- Sino Msolo
- Sir Trill
- Sizwe Alakine
- Sjava
- Sje Konka
- Skrypt
- Skwatta Kamp
- Slade
- Soa Mattrix
- Solo
- Soul Nativez
- Stilo Magolide
- Stogie T
- Supta
- Thato Saul
- The Big Hash
- Themba Lunacy
- Treehouse Reunion
- Tshego
- Tumi Tladi
- TXC
- Tyler ICU
- Uncle Partytime
- Uncle Vinny
- Uncle Waffles
- Vato Kayde
- Venom
- Willy Cardiac
- Yanga Chief
- Young Seruno
- Young Stunna
- YoungStacpt
- Yumbs
- Zakes Bantwini
- Zingah
- Zoocci Coke Dope
Lineup was subject to change before the festival.
More Than Just Music
Cotton Fest was designed as a wider youth-culture experience rather than a traditional music festival.
The 2022 edition included a games area, food court, live skating competition, basketball half-court and live art, alongside fashion and brand activations.
The Cotton Fest x PUMA Customisation Station was also part of the experience, while the festival’s retail fashion “Tuckshop” was set to sell Cotton Fest merchandise and limited-edition clothing.
Other activations included gaming and dance experiences, with MTV Base and YFM returning as media partners for the 2022 edition.
Cotton Fest 2022 & Riky Rick’s Legacy
The 2022 festival carried a different weight following the death of Riky Rick on February 23, 2022.
Cotton Fest had been founded by the rapper as a platform designed to bring together different parts of South African youth culture, particularly music, fashion and emerging creative movements.
After the festival was postponed from its original March date, Riky’s family and the organisers confirmed that the event would continue in April. Contemporary reporting described the festival as both a continuation of his vision and a tribute to his influence.
When Cotton Fest returned to The Station, artists including Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, Nadia Nakai, Kwesta, Sjava, Shekhinah, Uncle Waffles and Zakes Bantwini were among those performing, while tributes to Riky Rick took place throughout the weekend.
Cotton Fest Information
Date: Saturday, April 23 – Sunday, April 24, 2022
Venue: The Station, Carr Street & Nelson Mandela Bridge, Newtown, Johannesburg
Format: Two-day festival
Stages: Three
Day Pass: R300 per day at the time of announcement
Tickets
Phase Two tickets were announced for sale through Webtickets and Pick n Pay outlets nationwide from April 1, 2022.
Editor’s note: This article documents the original Cotton Fest 2022 announcement and is now maintained as part of Urban Street Culture’s South African music and culture archive.
