Doja Cat

Doja Cat is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Though her Jewish roots are not always at the forefront of her public image, they play an important role in shaping who she is both personally and artistically

Early Life and Heritage
Career Beginnings and Rise to Fame
Cultural Impact and Personal Identity
Controversies and Public Perception

Early Life and Heritage

Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, known professionally as Doja Cat, was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 21, 1995. She was raised by her Jewish-American mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, a painter, and her South African father, Dumisani Dlamini, who is of Zulu descent and an actor in South Africa. Growing up in a multicultural household, Doja Cat was primarily influenced by her mother’s Jewish background and the American culture surrounding her.

Doja Cat’s Jewish heritage comes from her maternal side. Her mother is of Lithuanian-Jewish descent, and this cultural influence played a significant role in Doja Cat’s upbringing. Although she doesn’t frequently speak about her Jewish roots publicly, her connection to her Jewish heritage is acknowledged in various cultural discussions and awards.

Career Beginnings and Rise to Fame

Doja Cat first gained attention as a teenager by posting music on SoundCloud, where her unique blend of R&B, hip-hop, and electronic music started to gather a following. Her breakout moment came with the viral success of her 2018 single “Mooo!,” which showcased her playful and genre-bending style. This was followed by the release of her debut studio album, Amala, and her subsequent albums, Hot Pink (2019) and Planet Her (2021), which solidified her place in the mainstream music industry.

Her versatility as an artist is reflected in her ability to blend different genres and cultural influences, which can be partly attributed to her diverse heritage. While her music predominantly draws from Black American culture, the undertones of her Jewish upbringing also subtly influence her work.

Cultural Impact and Personal Identity

Doja Cat has carved out a unique space in the music industry by embracing her dual heritage and using it to inform her artistic identity. While her connection to her South African roots is less pronounced due to her limited relationship with her father, she has maintained a strong connection to her Jewish identity through her mother. This connection has been acknowledged within the Jewish community, as seen in articles and discussions about her background.

Controversies and Public Perception

Doja Cat has faced several controversies throughout her career, some of which have intersected with discussions about her identity. In 2020, she was criticized for her participation in chat rooms where racist content was allegedly shared. In response, Doja Cat issued apologized, reaffirming her pride in her mixed heritage. This incident highlighted the complexities of navigating a public persona with such a diverse background.

Sources: Emily Burack, “18 Things to Know About Doja Cat,” heyalma, (Febuary 27, 2020).
Daysia Tolentino, “Here’s why Doja Cat is considered controversial online, even to her fans,” NBC News, (October 12, 2023).
Carla Thomas, “Doja Cat’s 7 most controversial moments ever, from that Sam Hyde T-shirt and offensive take on Filipino food balut, to feuding with Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp and calling Covid ‘a flu,’” Style, (October 17, 2023). 
Alice Wabwile, “Doja Cat’s parents: Facts about Dumisani Dlamini and Deborah Sawyer,” Briefly, (November 18, 2023). 
Gumat, “Discovering Doja Cat’s Ethnic Background: A Deep Dive,” GridNem, (September 3, 2024).

Photo: Vogue Taiwan via Wikimedia Commons.