Cotton Eaters are in for a massive treat as the sixth edition of the Cotton Fest is returning.

Keeping with its previous themes, the movement in 2025, is taking things to the next level with something special: the Faculty of Science.

“Science and music? They’re tighter than you think. It’s all connected, fam,” shared organisers.

“From the beats to the instruments, there’s a whole lot of maths and science going on in the background. The way we feel the music? That’s science talking to our souls, you cav?”

Cotton Fest is the brainchild of late rapper Rikhado Makhado who went by the stage name Riky Rick, it has expanded to other cities such as Cape Town and Durban, but Joburg is where it all started.

Cotton Fest is a music festival that celebrates hip-hop, house, amapiano and other leading South African music genres. Not only is it about music, but it also includes fashion, something Makhado was very fond of as well as games, food and art.

Last year's theme, #VoteCottonFest, was curated by Riky Rick’s partner Bianca Naidoo and she explained it stemmed from the commitment to educating and supporting the youth, which is something the late rapper was extremely passionate about.

“We’re drawing inspiration from the atom – the real OG of science. Atoms are the building blocks of everything, and just like that, every creative move we make sparks something scientific. Every scientific discovery? It’s got a creative twist.”

Organisers in 2025, will be dropping gems for the whole Cotton Fest fam, showing you how Music, Art and Science are always vibing off each other. This is more than a festival – it’s a whole new world.

Cotton Fest will take place on April 26, 2025 at Newtown Station.

IOL Entertainment