This event signifies the growth of the inaugural pan-African touring circuit, which will now encompass both East and West Africa, with Nigeria joining Rwanda as one of the host nations.
The 2025 Move Afrika tour will commence with Move Afrika: Kigali at the BK Arena in Rwanda on February 21, 2025, followed by Move Afrika: Lagos at The Palms in Nigeria on February 25.
This initiative aims to stimulate economic investment, generate job opportunities, and foster entrepreneurship within the creative sectors of each host country.
Move Afrika represents Global Citizen’s innovative approach to promoting sustainable, long-term change across the continent. By organizing live music events, the initiative creates essential career opportunities within Africa’s burgeoning creative industries.
Each concert is designed to involve local artists, vendors, and production teams, while also emphasizing skill development and practical training.
This ambitious initiative sets a new benchmark for entertainment touring, encouraging both international and regional artists to perform in Africa, thereby nurturing local talent and capacity.
The 2025 tour will also support a citizen-led advocacy campaign aimed at sustainable development and the enhancement of Africa’s health systems.
In partnership with its collaborators, Global Citizen will advocate for increased domestic health funding, improved primary care, and investments in health resilience, with the goal of reducing financial burdens and enhancing public health across the continent.
Limited tickets for both Move Afrika: Kigali and Move Afrika: Lagos are currently available for purchase at moveafrika.org. Further information on how to obtain free tickets through Global Citizen actions will be provided in the upcoming weeks.
John Legend, a dedicated Global Citizen Ambassador, shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming tour, stating, “I am both honored and excited to perform in Kigali and Lagos as part of the Move Afrika tour. This initiative not only promises unforgettable performances but also fosters entrepreneurship and job creation, empowering young individuals to engage with Africa’s burgeoning music and creative sectors.”
Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO of Global Citizen, remarked, “We are excited to have John Legend as the headliner for Move Afrika as we extend the tour from Rwanda to Nigeria. Our aim is to inspire and equip Africa’s vibrant youth to take an active role in the live music and creative industries, contributing to the continent’s development.”
Francis Gatare, CEO of Rwanda Development Board, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, stating, “Our return to Rwanda with Move Afrika in 2025 underscores our mutual commitment to showcasing Africa’s creative talent. Together, we aspire to establish Rwanda as an entertainment hub that benefits all African nations.”
Looking forward, the 2025 edition will build upon Global Citizen’s previous initiatives, such as the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in Johannesburg in 2018 and the Global Citizen Festival: Accra in 2022, continuing the movement’s mission to drive positive change across the continent.
Global Citizen stands as the foremost international advocacy organization committed to eradicating extreme poverty. By organizing campaigns and events, it galvanizes a worldwide network of ordinary activists to influence policy changes and promote investment in critical areas such as health, education, and climate initiatives. Since its founding, Global Citizen has successfully garnered more than $49 billion in commitments, positively affecting the lives of over 1.3 billion individuals across the globe.