by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman
November 7, 2023
Lamar will work with Global Citizen as the organization strives to bring more artists to perform in African venues.
Kendrick Lamar is headlining a special show with Global Citizen in a quest to bring more concerts to venues in Africa. The renowned rapper will showcase his artistry at the “Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience” concert in Kigali, Rwanda, on Dec. 6.
According to the Associated Press, Lamar will be part of the initiative as the organization aspires to create a touring circuit across the continent, bringing stars known globally to further engage with its African fanbase. Global Citizen’s CEO, Hugh Evans, expressed the company’s intentions to work with the “Alright” rapper to drive artists to perform in Africa.
“Move Afrika is about social enterprise – and over time, it provides certainty to our vendors and partners, enabling them to scale and expand,” expressed Evans in a conversation with the news outlet. “Our goal is that this tour will spur the growth and development of small businesses across the region to deliver both our events and many more year-round, as other artists take advantage of the tour routes.”
Global Citizen’s Chief Vision Officer, Kweku Mandela, elaborated on its mission to assure artists that quality shows can be delivered in these emerging venues.
“The reason that is so often given is that there’s a lack of infrastructure, lack of technical crews,” Mandela said. “The reality is, there’s just a lack of will because we’ve seen some of the biggest artists come to this continent over the last few decades.”
Afrobeats, a style of music derived from the continent, has gained popularity and mainstream success globally. Awards shows, such as the Grammys and MTV’s Video Music Awards, now include categories to highlight artists’ achievements in the genre.
Regional artists, curated by Lamar and his co-founded creative company, pgLang, will also be part of the inaugural show at the BK Arena. “Move Afrika: Rwanda” is funded through a combination of philanthropic and corporate sponsorship, as its success will promote a broader scale of artists to tour within Africa.
