In a memorable night celebrating connection, culture, and creativity, Nomzamo Mbatha and Thapelo Mokoena brought together some of South Africa’s most fascinating personalities at the “Let’s Do Dinner” event in Johannesburg. Presented by Stella Artois, the evening was a glamorous homage to South African culture and the joy of human connection. The event’s theme, “If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?” set a playful yet thoughtful tone for the gathering.
Held at the beautiful 92 Rivonia venue in Sandton, the guest list was impressive. South African icons from different fields attended, including artist Karabo Poppy, comedian Donovan Goliath, illustrator Sindiso Nyoni, media star Lasizwe, and actress Manaka Ranaka. As Bona Magazine reported, the evening was also graced by representatives from the Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit, South Africa’s first all-female anti-poaching group, whose presence symbolized resilience and Stella Artois’s commitment to supporting impactful communities.
Guests arrived dressed to impress, matching the “Modern Sophistication” theme. They enjoyed an evening filled with rich cultural exchanges, a spoken-word performance by Puno The Poet, and soulful music by Afro-soul stars Ami Faku and Bongeziwe Mabandla. The DJ sets from Zara, Justin Chalice, Sheldon, and DJ Just Mo kept the vibe lively and engaging all night.
Speaking to Bona Magazine, Bongeziwe Mabandla shared how much the night meant to him. “For an artist to have access to the kind of platform where you can engage on a human level and explain your creative process while exploring what you love most is a rare privilege. Through my music, I try to bring people together, so this was a night which was truly meaningful,” he said.
Before the event, Nomzamo told DRUM about her excitement in co-hosting with Thapelo Mokoena. “It’s going to be an incredible time hosting alongside Thapelo. Thaps is such a stellar human; I really enjoy him, and I love his journey. But for me, I’m grateful that Stella Artois trusted me again this year to bring the vibes, to have fantastic conversations and to do dinner,” she said with enthusiasm.
Nomzamo added that she had high expectations for the evening. “I’m very particular about the food this year, so the food has to be top-notch. Everything must top each other. What we did last year was incredible, but this year we want an even fuller experience. The music is going to be fantastic; it’s going to take us to another level. But the guest list! The guest list is going to bring the energy that we truly need [for a night of unwinding],” she shared.
Nomzamo also highlighted the importance of connection, noting that “Connection is at the core and heart of the Let’s Do Dinner experience… Building meaningful connections for me is about getting together with people who are like-minded and not like-minded because it just allows you to have different perspectives… I, too, don’t know who I’ll be sitting next to or which table I’ll be at,” she added, capturing the essence of the evening’s spirit.
