Global Citizen and Kendrick Lamar’s imprint pgLang have announced the next instalment of the pioneering pan-African tour

American balladeer John Legend will headline this year’s Move Afrika, the multi-country tour bidding to change the face of live entertainment in Africa.

Created by international advocacy organisation Global Citizen, the pan-African touring circuit debuted in 2023 in Rwanda with a headline performance by Kendrick Lamar at the sold-out BK Arena in Kigali. The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper’s creative imprint pgLang will serve as curator of Move Afrika up to 2028.

Each year, more countries will be added to the tour schedule, with Nigeria being the new addition for 2025.

Legend will kick off this year’s tour on 21 February at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, before moving to The Palms in Lagos, Nigeria, on 25 February.

“I’m honoured and excited to perform in Kigali and Lagos as part of the Move Afrika tour – an initiative that 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,” says Legend. “Africa has always been a global cultural powerhouse, and it’s an honour to be part of the future of live music on the continent.”

The 2025 edition will spotlight a citizen-led advocacy campaign championing sustainable development and economic growth, with a focus on strengthening health systems across the continent.

“Investing in [Africa’s] future with lasting infrastructure will mean the continent no longer needs to be excluded from the international touring circuit”

A limited number of tickets for Move Afrika: Kigali and Move Afrika: Lagos are available for purchase. Additional details about how to earn free tickets by taking action with Global Citizen will be announced.

“We’re thrilled to have John Legend, our longtime Global Citizen Ambassador and friend, headline Move Afrika, as we expand the tour from Rwanda to Nigeria,” says Global Citizen co-founder and CEO Hugh Evans. “As Move Afrika grows year over year, our goal is to equip and inspire Africa’s dynamic, young population to participate in the live music and creative industries, while investing in its future with lasting infrastructure that will mean the continent no longer needs to be excluded from the international touring circuit.”

Move Afrika’s 2025 instalment was initially due to include Ghana, but organisers said “the timeline needed to make an Accra show possible was not achievable for this next edition”.

“We remain committed to Ghana and its people and look forward to bringing Move Afrika to Ghana as soon as possible,” they added.

Move Afrika is Global Citizen’s latest effort to address the world’s inequities by creating job and entrepreneurship opportunities through live events. Its previous events in Africa include: Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, which brought Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, Usher, Eddie Vedder and Chris Martin to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2018 and Global Citizen Festival: Accra in 2022, which featured performances from Usher, SZA, Stormzy, Gyakie, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, TEMS and Uncle Waffles.