ULTRA South Africa Marks 10 Years Of Shaping Sound And Community

As ULTRA South Africa celebrates more than a decade of defining the electronic music landscape, the festival continues to raise the bar—not just with its world-class production, but with a lineup that reflects the future of dance music: diverse, unapologetic, and always ahead of the curve.

Where global industry trends offered limited space to women and queer artists—recent years have seen an intentional pivot. ULTRA South Africa proudly showcases a growing roster of female and LGBTQ+ talent whose sounds, visuals, and cultural impact are reshaping dance floors worldwide.

Among the early visionaries who set the stage is Lady Lea, a longtime ULTRA performer who founded Divas on Decks—a DJ agency and mentorship initiative that supports up-and-coming female artists. Through her legacy, generations of women have found a place in the scene and a future in the booth.

Ms Cosmo, Claudia Lovisa and more were just a few women to carry the torch across the formative years, until powerhouse DJ Zinhle captivated the Johannesburg Main Stage with her signature blend of classic beats and modern energy in 2020. 

Global sensation Uncle Waffles electrified ULTRA South Africa in 2023, proving once again that star power, skill, and originality know no gender. Her dynamic Amapiano sets, paired with viral visuals and trend-setting fashion, offer a holistic expression of the culture where she continuously breaks stereotypes set by men. Joining the ranks of these game-changers is Desiree, an intersex woman redefining Afro House and melodic Techno on the global stage. Her precise, emotionally resonant sets are winning acclaim far beyond South African borders, while her visibility offers inspiration for others whose stories are rarely told.

Sio, the soulful singer and producer, delivered a vocal-led performance that brought emotive storytelling to the fore, in a rare performance in 2024. With more stages came more opportunities to shine, and at the Club House, DBN Gogo lit up the crowd with her unmatched command of Amapiano, a genre that she continues to pioneer the world over. 

Arguably the most spectacular year yet, ULTRA South Africa’s 2023 lineup also welcomed Lelowhatsgood—a trailblazer in South Africa’s queer nightlife and ballroom scene. A cultural curator, DJ and vocal advocate for GQOM and underground club culture, Lelo’s inclusion affirms ULTRA South Africa’s commitment to pushing forward the voices of those who define the sound from the margins—and now, the centre. Returning in 2025, Lelowhatsgood will be joined by fellow advocate AN.D, as well as promising newcomers Mila Rose and Shamiso for a range of new styles to elevate South Africa’s offering. In a world where harm often and easily comes to women and queer folks, ULTRA South Africa 2025 sees a lineup representative of a culture of progress and love.

“We’ve built such a free and welcoming environment.” says Lelo. “I think it's a testament to the music as well, because I think the music comes first before the politics now. I was welcomed with open arms as an openly queer person. Now queer DJs get to be on lineups with the Lags and Ques, and funny enough I was talking to DJ Lag recently and he said he knows a lot of his music is played at queer events, so he wants to come and show support. And he has. I would never have thought we would be able to have this, it’s such a beautiful and supportive community.”   

These are more than just sets. They are soundscapes built from personal narratives, community histories, and African rhythms that reimagine what EDM and electronic music can be. From the heart-thumping percussion to melodic storytelling and dance-led performance styles, African female and queer DJs are creating experiences that no other country could parallel. In an age where attention is limited, these dancefloor operators encourage audiences to put their phones down and dance again, with the fusion of heritage and innovation they bring to ULTRA remaining unmatched—and deeply magnetic.

These DJs, producers, and curators aren’t just making music—they’re shaping movements. With skills that extend into label ownership, visual art, community-building, and international trendsetting, they are multi-hyphenate leaders of a cultural renaissance. Long after the music ends, their impact continues to ripple through fashion, dance, social media, and global media—outlasting many of their contemporaries.

ULTRA South Africa recognises that the global dance stage is expanding—and South Africa is not just a player, but a leader. The festival is proud to champion homegrown excellence and ensure that the world continues to tune into what’s next. ULTRA’s stance on diversity has moved representation from merely a checkbox to representation as cultural leadership. By continuing to book groundbreaking talent from across the gender spectrum, racial identities, and underground scenes, ULTRA is embracing the reality that the future of dance music is diverse, African, queer, and female-led—and they’re making space for that future on the biggest stages in the world.

True to house and electric music’s roots, in South Africa, electronic music isn’t just heard—it’s felt, seen, and lived every single day in so many ways… and at ULTRA South Africa we get to see all there is to offer as the music moves us forward together.

ULTRA South Africa 2025

Cape Town - Friday, 9 May 2025 at The Ostrich

Johannesburg - Saturday, 10 May 2025 at Expo Centre at Nasrec

Tickets on sale here

Stay connected with ULTRA South Africa on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for lineup announcements, exciting updates, and sneak peeks into the tenth-anniversary celebration as the festival gears up for ULTRA South Africa 2025.