Rio Carnival Queen of the Drums, Erika Januza, recently brought her magic to the Mother City by performing at the ever-iconic Cape Town Carnival. Returning the favour, Cape Town shared bouts of its own magic with the star who raved about her experiences to the world (or at least, her millions of fans).
Cape Town, South Africa (14 April 2025) — Big energy, glam, dance and drums. These are just some of the things that Erika Januza is known for as the Rio Carnival Queen of the Drums.
Fresh off her winning performance at the Rio Carnival 2024, Queen Erika embarked all the way from the tropics of South America to Cape Town, where she’d not only get to play tourist, but also perform at our Cape Town Carnival.
This year’s Cape Town Carnival was even more special than usual, as it celebrated 15 years. From the Stormers joining the festivities to the ever-thrilling floats and performers, having Erika share her magic with Capetonians was yet another cherry atop the cake.
View this post on Instagram
For the Rio Carnival Queen of the Drums, the Cape Town carnival was “a dream to experience” (no small compliment when you consider Rio’s reputation for some of the world’s most iconic carnivals).
And, just as Erika brought that extra dose of magic to the Mother City, the Mother City returned the favour by giving Erika a fabulous trip through the City.
Erika visited all parts of Cape Town during her stay, including the heights of Table Mountain, the African Penguins down at Boulders (to which Erika humorously pondered what penguins were doing in the sunshine) and a colourful trip to Bo-Kaap.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
But it wasn’t all tourist stops for the star. Erika also enjoyed time living like locals like visiting a salon before the parade.
As she explains, getting her braids done wasn’t just about hair. Rather, its a symbolic experience that she entrusted to local braiders.
View this post on Instagram
“[The braids are] about who we were, are and can be… Kings and queens, our braids are a sign of strength, power, resistance…”
These experiences were shared with millions of her fans (4 million on Instagram alone), in what was a heartwarming cultural exchange.
“I brought the energy of Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro with me, a piece of my ancestry and our history,” Erika added.
A model and actress, the Queen of the Drums is also making history by playing the first Black Brazilian witch in Disney’s history thanks to her role in the series ‘A Magia de Aruna’.
by 