•Tanzanian singer/songwriter Zuchu performs at the inaugural Move Afrika event held at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, 06 December 2023
Accra, Ghana, is set to join Kigali, Rwanda, as a host city for the groundbreaking Move Afrika 2024 tour, an ambitious initiative that aims to establish an unprecedented international music touring circuit across the African continent.
The announcement, made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, involves a collaboration between Global Citizen, creative imprint pgLang and the respective Presidents of Ghana and Rwanda, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo and H.E. Paul Kagame.
The Move Afrika tour, curated by pgLang, follows the success of last month’s inaugural event in Rwanda, headlined by the acclaimed Kendrick Lamar. The event not only showcased world-class performances but also demonstrated a commitment to local engagement, employing over 1,000 Rwandans and emphasising skill development and training within the local workforce.
Global Citizen’s return to Ghana with Move Afrika: Ghana comes on the heels of the impactful Global Citizen Festival: Accra in 2022.
The Ghanaian government’s post-event analysis found the festival’s social and economic impact was vast: more than $15 million was injected into the economy from activity such as production spending, hotels, transport, advertising and security; over 5,000 people traveled to Ghana for the festival; more than 1,000 Ghanians were employed as part of the event; hotel occupancy increased to 75 percent; and over 2 million actions were taken by global citizens as part of advocacy efforts to End Extreme Poverty NOW. Hosted by Danai Gurira, over 100 million music fans around the world watched incredible live performances from Usher, SZA, Stormzy, Gyakie, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, TEMS and Uncle Waffles.
The Move Afrika initiative, initiated in Kigali in December 2023, is poised to become an annual, multi-country tour that not only transforms the live entertainment landscape in Africa but also invests in local economies, skill training and youth entrepreneurship. The tour aims to expand to three countries in 2024 and five countries by 2025, setting a new gold standard for entertainment touring across the continent.
The Presidents of Ghana and Rwanda, along with Global Citizen and pgLang, expressed their excitement and commitment to the project. H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo praised Global Citizen for leveraging live music events to engage youth and create social and economic impact. President Paul Kagame emphasized the importance of mentorship and support for African talent, acknowledging Global Citizen’s role in developing the workforce needed for professional concert tours.
Kweku Mandela, Chief Vision Officer of Global Citizen, highlighted the partnership’s goal to showcase the best of African creative talent globally while generating economic investment in local creative economies. pgLang expressed their excitement to work with Move Afrika in Ghana, building on their connection with Accra since their first visit in 2022.
Move Afrika: Ghana is part of Global Citizen’s extensive efforts across the African continent, including previous events in Rwanda, Johannesburg, Lagos, and Accra. The tour aims to continue impacting lives and raising awareness about global issues through the powerful medium of music.
Details about Move Afrika: Ghana’s dates and line-up are yet to be announced, building anticipation for another extraordinary cultural experience. For further information, music enthusiasts and advocates can stay tuned to moveafrika.org as the tour unfolds its plans in the coming months.
Global Citizen, a leading international advocacy organisation, has been at the forefront of efforts to end extreme poverty over the past decade. With a global community of activists, campaigns, and events, they have mobilised $43.6 billion in commitments, positively impacting nearly 1.3 billion lives. Operating worldwide, Global Citizen’s mission continues to resonate through its diverse initiatives, encouraging individuals to raise their voices and take action against poverty. Join the movement at globalcitizen.org and follow Global Citizen on various social media platforms for updates.