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Global Citizen, the international advocacy organization dedicated to ending extreme poverty, has announced that EGOT-winning, critically acclaimed, multiplatinum artist and producer John Legend will headline the 2025 edition of Move Afrika. This groundbreaking pan-African music touring circuit, which will expand from East to West Africa next year, will include two major events: Move Afrika: Kigali in Rwanda on February 21, and Move Afrika: Lagos in Nigeria on February 25, 2025.
Move Afrika is more than just a music tour. It is a long-term initiative designed to stimulate economic investment, create job opportunities, and support entrepreneurship in Africa’s rapidly growing creative economies. By showcasing the best of African culture to the world, the tour aims to bring transformative investments into local communities, create a platform for local artists, and provide opportunities for on-the-job skill development in various sectors, including production, event management, and marketing.
The 2025 edition of Move Afrika will also include a citizen-led advocacy campaign focused on strengthening health systems across the continent. This initiative, in partnership with Global Citizen’s campaign allies, will advocate for African governments to increase domestic health financing, prioritize primary care, and boost sexual and reproductive health and rights.
It will also call for greater global investments in health resilience and work to alleviate financial burdens that hinder the improvement of public health systems across Africa.
Global Citizen envisions Move Afrika as a catalyst for long-term change, not only in the entertainment industry but also in terms of the socio-economic development of the African continent.
The tour will create new pathways for young Africans to engage in and benefit from Africa’s growing music and creative industries. It will also build the capacity of host cities to support the increasing demand for international tours, paving the way for future global artists to consider Africa as a key destination for their tours.
“I’m honored and excited to perform in Kigali and Lagos as part of the Move Afrika tour,” said John Legend. “Africa has always been a global cultural powerhouse, and it’s an honor to be part of the future of live music on the continent. This initiative not only brings unforgettable shows to the people, but also creates entrepreneurship and job opportunities, empowering young people to engage with Africa’s growing music and creative industries.”
Hugh Evans, Co-Founder and CEO of Global Citizen, expressed his excitement about the expansion of Move Afrika: “We’re thrilled to have John Legend, our longtime Global Citizen Ambassador, headline Move Afrika as we expand the tour from Rwanda to Nigeria. Move Afrika’s growth year after year will equip and inspire Africa’s dynamic, young population to participate in the live music and creative industries while investing in the continent’s future with lasting infrastructure.”
The Rwanda Development Board, a key partner of Move Afrika: Kigali, shares a similar vision. “Global Citizen and Move Afrika’s return to Rwanda in February 2025 underscores our shared commitment to showcasing Africa’s creative talent and leveraging the global entertainment industry to address the continent’s development priorities,” said Francis Gatare, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board. “We aim to position Rwanda as an entertainment hub that benefits all African countries, particularly by creating youth-focused employment and income-generating opportunities.”
The 2025 edition of Move Afrika builds on the success of its inaugural event, Move Afrika: Rwanda, held in Kigali in December 2023. This event, headlined by Grammy Award-winning artist Kendrick Lamar, was hailed as the most successful live music event ever staged in Rwanda. It prioritized job creation, skill training, and youth entrepreneurship, engaging over 1,000 Rwandans, with 75 per cent of the crew and production staff being local. The event featured performances by top African artists like Zuchu, Bruce Melodie, DJ TOXXYK, Sherrie Silver, and others.
As part of a broader effort to advocate for the empowerment of young people and the creative industries, the 2025 Move Afrika tour will continue Global Citizen’s work across Africa, including past events such as the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in Johannesburg, South Africa (2018), and Global Citizen Festival: Accra in Ghana (2022). With each event, the goal remains clear: to create lasting economic impact and to position Africa as a central player in the global entertainment industry.
Tickets for Move Afrika: Kigali and Move Afrika: Lagos are available now at moveafrika.org, with more details about how to earn free tickets by taking action with Global Citizen to be announced in the coming weeks.
Move Afrika 2025 is a collaboration between Global Citizen, pgLang, the Rwanda Development Board, and numerous local partners. The initiative aims to continue expanding over the next several years, with more countries set to join the tour circuit in the coming editions.
