Move Afrika’s expansion to Nigeria impactful – Official

The Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Global Citizen, Hugh Evans, has said that the expansion of the music touring circuit, Move Afrika, to Lagos has boosted its impact.

According to a statement from the pan-African outfit, the show’s headlining artiste, John Legend, performed to a packed audience in the Victoria Island area of Lagos on Tuesday.

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.

Speaking on the impact of the touring circuit and the choice of Nigeria, Evans said “Adding a second location to the Move Afrika tour this year is a major step in the direction of establishing the pan-continental music touring circuit that both international and local artists will leverage for years to come. It’s this kind of incremental growth by which, year after year, we’ll continue pioneering and pushing our vision towards reality.

“Nigeria has an incredibly rich musical heritage, a well-established local entertainment industry, and a cultural influence that reverberates right across the globe. We are honoured to have added Nigeria to the MoveAfrika tour and look forward to returning for the years to come.”

During the show, Legend performed some of his greatest hits, including ‘Ordinary People’, ‘PDA’, ‘GreenLight’, ‘All of Me’ and ‘Refuge’ and was joined on stage by the artiste, Simi.

“It’s been too long, I’ve missed you all,” Legend said during the show. “We’re thankful to Global Citizen and MoveAfrika for bringing us back here. We belong together, Lagos. I’m so happy we’re together tonight.”

Throughout the set, he wore outfits by local designers. The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also commended Global Citizen, the organisers of the music touring circuit, ‘Move Afrika’ for picking Lagos as one of the destination spots for its concerts.

Sanwo-Olu during his speech delivered at the concert said, “Lagos, the heartbeat of Nigeria and Africa’s most vibrant city, is proud to host this groundbreaking event. Move Afrika is a concert, a movement, and a call to action for global citizens to unite in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from poverty and inequality to climate change and access to education.

“Move Afrika aligns perfectly with our vision for Lagos. It reminds us that we are all connected, and the challenges we face, whether in Lagos, Johannesburg, or New York, require collective solutions. Through the power of music and advocacy, Global Citizen is amplifying the voices of the marginalised and empowering communities to take action.

“Tonight, we are privileged to be graced by the presence of a global icon, a man whose music and activism have touched millions—Mr. John Legend, a man whose music transcends borders and whose commitment to social justice is unwavering, embodies the spirit of this movement. His presence here today is a reminder that art and activism are not separate but intertwined forces for good.”

Sanwo-Olu also called for collaborations that would ease access to quality education for Lagos children and better the lives of Lagosians.

“As we enjoy the incredible performances tonight, let us not forget the purpose behind this gathering. Let us commit to being active global citizens—to raising our voices, and taking action. Let us work together to ensure that every child in Lagos has access to quality education, that every family has access to healthcare, and that our environment is protected for future generations.

“In closing, I commend Global Citizen for their unwavering commitment to driving change and for choosing Lagos as a key destination for this initiative. I thank Global Citizen, Mr. John Legend, and everyone who has made this event possible. Let tonight be a celebration of music, unity, hope and a reminder that together, we can move Afrika—and the world—forward,” he said.

For the Move Afrika music touring circuit headlined by international artists, only Nigeria and Rwanda are host countries on the continent.