In Photos: Riky Rick’s Cotton Fest 2020 Was Bigger & Better

Browse through photos from the second annual Cotton Fest.

In Photos: Riky Rick’s Cotton Fest 2020 Was Bigger & Better

Cotton Fest, the South African music and street culture festival started by Riky Rick, came back in grand fashion this year. Last year's event had already proved to be a spectacle and a great start to a festival that has big potential.


For 2020, Riky Rick and his team refused to rest on their laurels, as they stretched themselves further. The festival had three stages this year.

The main stage hosted the likes of Kwesta, Shane Eagle, Emtee and many of the country's biggest hip-hop artists. The Rage stage showcased the new wave (The Big Hash, Dee Koala, Costa Titch, and more) while the Desperados stage hosted some of the most popular house artists, which meant there was plenty of amapiano—DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small, DJ Fresh and Distruction Boyz among others dished out sets that packed the dance floor.

There were more stalls than there were last year, offering a wide range of brands and merchandise. As expected from a festival called CottonFest, founded by Riky Rick, one of the most stylish South Africans, attendees came dressed to the T.

Cotton Fest is becoming one of the most important events in South Africa's hip-hop and social calendar. It's a festival that resonates with the current generation of hip-hop and urban artists, a group that hasn't been afforded the privilege to showcase their craft and shake hands in a magnitude this large.

Below are some photos from the event.


Performances

Emtee. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Uncle Vinny. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Nicole Nyaba and Southside Mohammed. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Shane Eagle. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Maglera Doe Boy and one of the hosts for the main stage Scoop Makhathini. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Yanga Chief. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Dee Koala. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Makwa. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Kwesta. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Southside Mohammed. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


The Big Hash. Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Cotton Eaters


Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.


Photo by Sabelo Mkhabela.

The cover artwork for OkayAfrica’s Best West African Songs of 2024 list featuring Ayra Starr and Tems.
Latest

The Best West African Songs of 2024

This year’s list features emerging talents and an uptick in artists reaching to the past to create new sounds.

A man stands on a stage, wearing a denim jacket and pants while holding up a hand fan.
News

With “Sade,” Adekunle Gold Challenged The Nigerian Music Industry

As “Sade” turns 10, we take a look at how Adekunle Gold provided an alternative template to being a Nigerian superstar by making music with soul and commercial merits.