John Legend to headline Move Afrika Tour in 2025

Renowned international advocacy organization, Global Citizen, committed to ending extreme poverty, has announced that EGOT-winning, critically acclaimed, multiplatinum artiste and producer John Legend will headline the next installment of Move Afrika in February 2025.

This marks the expansion of the first-ever pan-African touring circuit, which will now stretch from East to West Africa, with Nigeria joining Rwanda as host countries.

The 2025 Move Afrika tour will kick off with Move Afrika: Kigali at the BK Arena in Rwanda on February 21, 2025, before heading to Move Afrika: Lagos at The Palms in Nigeria on February 25.

This initiative is designed to boost economic investment, create job opportunities, and support entrepreneurship within the creative economies of each host country.

Move Afrika is Global Citizen’s groundbreaking effort to drive long-term positive change across the continent.

By organizing live music events, the initiative provides invaluable career opportunities in Africa’s emerging creative industries.

With each concert, Move Afrika aims to engage local artistes, vendors, and production crews while promoting skill development and on-the-job training.

This ambitious project sets a new standard for entertainment touring, encouraging international and regional artists to perform in Africa, thus fostering local talent and capacity.

The 2025 tour will also champion a citizen-led advocacy campaign focusing on sustainable development and enhancing Africa’s health systems.

In collaboration with its partners, Global Citizen will push for increased domestic health financing, strengthened primary care, and investment in health resilience, aiming to alleviate financial burdens and improve public health across the continent.

Limited tickets for both Move Afrika: Kigali and Move Afrika: Lagosare now available for purchase at moveafrika.org. Details on how to earn free tickets through Global Citizen actions will be shared in the coming weeks.

John Legend, a longtime Global Citizen Ambassador, expressed his excitement about the tour, saying, “I’m honored and excited to perform in Kigali and Lagos as part of the Move Afrika tour. This initiative not only brings unforgettable shows, but also creates entrepreneurship and job opportunities, empowering young people to engage with Africa’s growing music and creative industries.”

Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO of Global Citizen, added, “We’re thrilled to have John Legend headline Move Afrika, as we expand the tour from Rwanda to Nigeria. Our goal is to inspire and equip Africa’s dynamic youth to actively participate in the live music and creative sectors, contributing to the continent’s growth.”

Francis Gatare, CEO of Rwanda Development Board, emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying, “Our return to Rwanda with Move Afrika in 2025 highlights our shared commitment to showcasing Africa’s creative talent. Together, we aim to position Rwanda as an entertainment hub that benefits all African nations.”

The success of the first Move Afrika event, Move Afrika: Rwanda, held in December 2023, demonstrated the potential of the tour. Headlined by Kendrick Lamar, the event employed over 1,000 Rwandans, 75% of whom were local crew members. The event also featured performances by top African artists, including Zuchu, Bruce Melodie, and Sherrie Silver.

Looking ahead, the 2025 edition will build on Global Citizen’s past initiatives, such as Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in Johannesburg in 2018 and Global Citizen Festival: Accra in 2022, continuing the movement’s mission of driving positive change across the continent.

Global Citizen is the world’s leading international advocacy organization dedicated to ending extreme poverty. Through campaigns and events, the organization mobilizes a global community of everyday activists to drive policy change and investment in key issues like health, education, and climate action. Since its inception, Global Citizen has secured over $49 billion in commitments, impacting over 1.3 billion lives worldwide.