If you follow Unpacked on Tik Tok, you’ve probably seen one of our most viral videos: Is Doja Cat Jewish?!
She sure is!
Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, known by her stage name Doja Cat, was born in the Los Angeles, California neighbourhood of Tarzana. Her mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, is a Jewish American painter, and her father, Dumisani Dlamini is a South African actor, composer, and film producer.
Doja Cat was propelled into the spotlight after her track, “Mooo!” became a viral YouTube hit in August of 2018. But what really caused her latest rise to fame is her most popular track, “Say So,” which became the track for a viral dance trend on TikTok.
Doja Cat has been open about the fact that her dad wasn’t present growing up, so she was raised by Sawyer as a single mom.
What is most notable about her Jewish identity, is that she herself identifies as Jewish.
“My mom was kinda a hip-hop head, really ironic because like — I’m Jewish, my grandma’s Jewish, she’s white, and she was never exposed to music like that,” she explained in a 2013 YouTube video.
So that’s the scoop! One of the singers that carried us all through quarantine with her viral hits, is, in fact, a member of the tribe!
Originally Published Apr 5, 2021 12:09AM EDT
