John Legend to Headline 2025 Global Citizen Move Afrika Series

Global Citizen announced on Tuesday (Dec. 17) that John Legend will headline the 2025 installment of the group’s Move Afrika touring series next February. The international advocacy organization with a mission to end extreme poverty has tapped the singer/producer to topline the next iteration of the first-of-its-kind African tour circuit headlined by international artists.

The 2025 edition will expand beyond the East-to-West Africa route to include stops in Nigeria and Rwanda, kicking off on February 21 with the Move Afrika: Kigali show at the BK Arena. The tour will then move on to Lagos for a show at the Palms on February 25.

“I’m honored 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,” said Legend in a statement. “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.”

The first Move Afrika event, Move Afrika: Rwanda, was held in Kigali in December 2023 and was headlined by Kendrick Lamar and, according to the release, hailed as the most successful live music event ever staged in the country. The series aims to drive economic investment, job creation and support entrepreneurship opportunities in each host country it visits.

“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,” reads a release announcing next year’s lineup. “Showcasing the best of Africa to the world, these events will drive transformative investments within local communities, engage local artists, vendors, agencies and crews, and provide opportunities for on-the-job skill development and training.”

The goal is to add additional counties to the circuit each year over the next five years. 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. A limited number of tickets for Move Afrika: Kigali and Move Afrika: Lagos are available for purchase here; additional details about the February tour and how to earn free tickets by taking action with Global Citizen will be announced soon.

“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,” said Global Citizen co-founder and CEO Hugh Evans in a statement. “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.”