Move Afrika 2026: Doja Cat, Two Cities, and a Blueprint for Sustainable Music Tourism

Global Citizen’s groundbreaking Move Afrika tour is back for its third year, and this time Grammy-winning superstar Doja Cat is leading the charge. The 2026 edition will touch down in Rwanda and South Africa this March, continuing to prove that world-class entertainment and economic development can go hand in hand.

The Tour Details

Move Afrika 2026 kicks off at Kigali’s BK Arena on March 17, before heading to Pretoria’s SunBet Arena on March 20. Developed in partnership with pgLang (Kendrick Lamar‘s creative company), the Rwanda Development Board, and major tour partner Cisco, this isn’t just another concert series—it’s a deliberate investment in Africa’s creative future.

For those looking to attend Move Afrika: Pretoria, Mastercard holders get first access to presale tickets starting February 16, with general sales opening February 18 via Ticketmaster. Kigali tickets are available now at moveafrika.org.

More Than Music: Building Africa’s Creative Economy

What sets Move Afrika apart from traditional touring circuits is its commitment to local capacity building. The numbers tell a compelling story:

• Over 2,500 jobs created across Kigali and Lagos since the tour’s inception
• 90% of crew and production roles filled by local talent
• 95% of equipment sourced locally in recent editions
• 50 young people trained through the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator in hands-on production roles

In Kigali specifically, local crew participation jumped from 75% in 2023 to 90% in 2025, with expanded training programs in rigging, security, and hospitality. This model demonstrates how international touring can strengthen—rather than bypass—local creative industries.

A Movement With Purpose

“This isn’t just a tour, it’s a movement that creates jobs and opportunities that last,” Doja Cat emphasized in her announcement. The artist, who has South African roots, has become a Global Citizen regular, performing at events from Paris to New York and the FIFA Club World Cup™ Final.

Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans positioned Move Afrika as a paradigm shift: “Move Afrika is redefining global touring by placing Africa’s creative excellence at the center of the international circuit, creating jobs, strengthening local creative industries, and driving long-term economic growth powered by culture.”

Beyond entertainment, the 2026 tour continues last year’s advocacy campaign for stronger healthcare systems across Africa, urging nations to invest in primary care, sexual and reproductive health, and health resilience.

Building on Success

Move Afrika has evolved significantly since Kendrick Lamar headlined the inaugural 2023 edition in Rwanda. Last year’s tour featured John Legend across Kigali and Lagos, and the expansion to Pretoria marks another step in Global Citizen’s five-year plan to build a permanent pan-African touring circuit.

This initiative joins Global Citizen’s impressive African event history, including the 2018 Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in Johannesburg (featuring Beyoncé and Jay-Z), 2021’s Lagos event at Fela Kuti’s New Afrika Shrine, and 2022’s Accra festival with Usher and SZA.

The Bigger Picture

Alongside the 2026 tour, the Music Economy Development Initiative (MEDI)—a partnership between Global Citizen, Universal Music Group, and IFC—will release new research aimed at positioning music financing as a driver of sustainable growth in Africa’s creative economy.

Jean-Guy Afrika, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, framed the partnership’s significance: “This partnership supports our vision of Rwanda as a premier destination for live entertainment, one that creates jobs for young people, unlocks new economic opportunities, and delivers lasting benefits for Rwanda and the continent as a whole.”

As Move Afrika continues to expand across the continent—with previous stops in Johannesburg, Accra, Kigali, and Lagos—it’s setting a new standard for how international artists can tour while genuinely investing in local communities. For travelers and music fans alike, these events offer a chance to witness both world-class performances and a model for sustainable cultural tourism in action.