BREAKING: John Legend headlines Africa tour to tackle poverty

Global Citizen, the international advocacy organisation on a mission to end extreme poverty, has picked multiplatinum artist and producer, John Legend, as the headline artist for the next edition of Move Afrika, the first-of-its-kind music touring circuit headlined by international artists.

According to a statement on Wednesday, the next tour will expand from East to West Africa, with Nigeria joining Rwanda as host countries.

Move Afrika is a long-term, large-scale effort to pioneer the music touring circuit across Africa, driving economic investment, job creation, and supporting entrepreneurship opportunities in each host country. Move Afrika is Global Citizen’s initiative to address the world’s inequities by creating job and entrepreneurship opportunities for the continent’s emerging generations through an annual series of live music events.

The organisers said that the 2025 edition of Move Afrika will drive a citizen-led advocacy campaign championing sustainable development and economic growth, with a dedicated focus on strengthening health systems across Africa.

Together with campaign partners, Global Citizen will urge African nations to increase domestic health financing, prioritise primary care and sexual and reproductive health and rights, boost global investments in health resilience, and alleviate financial burdens on nations to strengthen public health.

Partners of Move Afrika include pgLang and the Rwanda Development Board.

“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.

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,” said John Legend.

“We’re thrilled to have John Legend, our long-time Global Citizen Ambassador and friend, headline Move Afrika as we expand the tour from Rwanda to Nigeria,” said Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Global Citizen, 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.”

“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, Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board.

“Together, we aim to position Rwanda as an entertainment hub that benefits all African countries, including by creating youth-focused employment and income-generating opportunities,” he added.

The first Move Afrika event, Move Afrika: Rwanda, held in Kigali in December 2023, was headlined by Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Kendrick Lamar, and prioritised job creation, skill training, and youth entrepreneurship along the way.

The 2025 edition of Move Afrika will build on Global Citizen’s previous campaigns and events across Africa, including Move Afrika: Rwanda, held at the BK Arena in 2023; Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, which featured Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, Usher, Eddie Vedder, and Chris Martin of Coldplay in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2018; Global Citizen Live: Lagos, with performances by Davido, Femi Kuti, and Tiwa Savage at Fela Kuti’s New Afrika Shrine in 2021; and Global Citizen Festival: Accra, which brought Usher, SZA, Stormzy, and TEMS to the Black Star Square in 2022.