Lioness Productions SA In Proud Partnership With City of Johannesburg, Presents - Catch A Fire Reggae Festival 2026.
26 February 2026
Lioness Productions SA, in proud partnership with the City of Johannesburg, presents the Catch A Fire Reggae Festival 2026. A powerful cultural gathering forming part of the Arts Alive Joburg Programme. A celebration of South Africa’s deep reggae roots, brought to life through a carefully curated homegrown, countrywide, Pan-African, and global reggae music experience that uplifts arts, culture, and community connection.
CATCH A FIRE REGGAE FESTIVAL 2026
14 March 2026 | Ubuntu Kraal, Orlando West, Soweto
On Saturday, 14 March 2026, the heartbeat of reggae will echo through the historic streets of Soweto as Catch A Fire returns to ignite Ubuntu Kraal with rhythm, resistance, and revolutionary spirit.
More than just a festival, Catch A Fire is an African reggae experience rooted in identity, history, and lived realities. It is a movement — a gathering of kings and queens, freedom fighters, conscious youth, and cultural custodians united through music that speaks truth to power.
Set in the iconic township of Orlando West — a place synonymous with South Africa’s liberation heritage — the festival stands as a bold celebration of African excellence and global reggae solidarity.
A Pan-African & Global Reggae Experience
Catch A Fire 2026 proudly presents a dynamic lineup blending South Africa’s reggae giants with continental firebrands and international legends.
South African Reggae Royalty & Cultural Icons
• Boom Shaka — A legendary South African group whose contribution to South African music history continues to inspire generations.
• Ras Nkhushu — iconic reggae performer born and raised in Limpopo Province, celebrated as one of the earliest voices to bring reggae in Sepedi language to South African audiences, grounding his music in local identity and township narratives
• Bongo Riot — SAMA Best Reggae Album winners (2018), a dynamic South African reggae collective known for militant rhythms, socially conscious lyrics, and electrifying live performances.
• Black Dillinger — SAMA Best Reggae Album winner (2017), respected roots reggae voice delivering powerful messages of unity, justice, and African pride.
• Skeleton Blazer — SAMA Best Reggae Album winner (2020), high-energy reggae and dancehall performer celebrated for commanding stage presence and lyrical fire.
• Luwe Da Lion — SAMA Best Reggae Album winner (2025) for After All, conscious reggae artist rooted in African spirituality, known for uplifting messages and culturally grounded performances.
Continental & International Powerhouses
• Reemah — internationally acclaimed reggae singer and songwriter from the U.S. Virgin Islands, celebrated for her soulful voice and powerful storytelling that resonates across global reggae audiences.
• Jahworks Soundsystem (Japan) — world-renowned, championship-winning reggae sound system celebrated globally for its dubplate culture, sound clash excellence, and deep-rooted contribution to international sound system culture.
• Ras Ricky (Seychelles) — Seychelles reggae artist blending island sounds with global reggae culture, bringing a unique Indian Ocean flavour to the continental stage.
• Dynamq (South Sudan) — reggae-dancehall artist, DJ, producer and founder of Dynamq Sounds International, whose musical journey from refugee camps to global stages brings narratives of resilience, humanity, and cross-cultural connection.
• Crucial Vybz Sound (Zimbabwe) — Zimbabwe-born reggae and dancehall selectors now based internationally, renowned for their reggae and riddim selections that celebrate Zimbabwe’s vibrant reggae culture on global platforms.
• King Lagazee / Lagazee Sound International (Ghana) — Ghanaian reggae and dancehall powerhouse, acclaimed for electrifying live performances, innovative sound system mastery, and bridging African and global reggae culture with authentic rhythms and conscious messaging.
• DJ Kobie Ashanti HiFi (Trinidad) — Trinidadian reggae and sound system DJ, recognized for dynamic mixes and his contribution to Caribbean sound culture.
Rising Voices & Upcoming Cultural Torchbearers
• Bhubesi Simba — a fast-rising reggae artist from KZN whose powerful lyrical delivery and engaging cultural fusion continue to resonate with reggae lovers across the region.
• Itesman — a respected reggae artist, producer, and cultural voice from Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape Province, known for soulful roots rhythms and conscious storytelling that reflect both township grit and artistic depth.
• KingBlack Yellow — vibrant reggae-dancehall artist bringing fresh energy and Afrocentric pride to the scene, representing the reggae movement of Bloemfontein and Western Cape, where his creativity has been championed through local cultural showcases.
This lineup reflects the festival’s Pan-African and global outlook, reinforcing reggae as a shared cultural language connecting communities across continents. From Soweto to the Caribbean, from East, West & Southern Africa to East Asia, Catch A Fire 2026 embodies unity through sound.
This carefully curated lineup delivers an explosive fusion of roots reggae, dub, dancehall, Afro-reggae, and conscious music — promising a full day of electrifying live performances, live bands, and immersive cultural experiences.
Part of Arts Alive Joburg
As part of the City of Johannesburg’s Arts Alive Programme, Catch A Fire 2026 reinforces the city’s commitment to arts, heritage, and cultural expression. The festival contributes meaningfully to the creative economy while creating a safe, inclusive platform for artistic freedom and community celebration.
Catch A Fire Reggae Festival 2026 is proudly supported by the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, with strategic partner Gauteng Tourism Authority.
Why Catch A Fire Matters
Reggae has always been the soundtrack of resistance and resilience. From the townships of South Africa to the streets of Kingston and beyond, it carries messages of justice, equality, and spiritual awakening.
Catch A Fire is where:
- Music meets movement
- Culture meets consciousness
- Africa meets the world
It is a space where generations unite — elders who lived the struggle and youth shaping the future — all connected through the universal language of reggae.
TICKETS
Tickets are available now at:
Pick n Pay stores nationwide
This is not just an event — it is an experience. Join the Fire
On 14 March 2026, Ubuntu Kraal becomes sacred ground.
Soweto becomes the epicentre of global Reggae culture.
And Africa raises its voice.Come dressed in your roots.
Come ready to chant down Babylon.
Come ready to Catch A Fire.
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