Gigi Lamayne praises Minister Gayton McKenzie as an ‘impactful voice’ for SA arts

Rapper Gigi Lamayne, born Genesis Gabriella Tina Manney, has publicly expressed her appreciation for Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie. 

Lamayne shared her admiration on social media after meeting the Minister in Singapore.

On Instagram, she posted a video of them embracing, captioning it: “What a fun minister! What an impactful minister. A showcase. A voice. Words cannot fathom.”

The post quickly gained traction online, with fans praising both Lamayne and the Minister for their visible support of South African arts and culture abroad.

The meeting took place during the South Africa Focus Week in Singapore (SAFWS), an annual initiative led by the South African High Commission in Singapore.

The event is designed to strengthen bilateral relations while promoting South Africa’s economic potential, culture and innovation. It gathers South African businesses, entrepreneurs, government officials and artists for a week of targeted engagements.

Lamayne’s presence added a cultural dimension to the event, highlighting the country’s growing influence in the international music scene.

Her appearance in Singapore also coincides with the Singapore leg of her international “I’m Not A DJ” tour, which launched on Tuesday, October 7.

Lamayne is scheduled to perform in Singapore until Saturday, October 11, before continuing to Amsterdam. Following her European dates, she will bring the tour back to South Africa with stops in Johannesburg and Hartbeespoort.

“I’m Not A DJ” is a three-track EP set to release on Friday, October 10. The project features collaborations with several South African artists, including Sizwe Alakine, Sweggy, Nokwazi, Supta, PeeKay Mzee, Professor and Lwanda Gogwana.

Lamayne has built a reputation as one of SA’s leading female rappers.

She first gained attention with her freestyle videos and quickly established herself in the local hip hop scene with her sharp lyricism and strong stage presence.

Over the years, she has released multiple projects, received several award nominations and performed on international stages, consistently pushing South African music onto global platforms.

Beyond music, Lamayne is known for her advocacy work, mentoring young artists and supporting initiatives that empower women in the creative industries.