On Sunday April 5 at ThisDay Dome, Abuja, Heineken staged Young Jonn Live in Abuja as one of the centerpieces of the Nigerian Breweries Big Fiesta campaign in the capital — and from the moment Young Jonn took the stage, it was clear this was not just a concert. It was a celebration of Nigerian creativity at its most electric, powered by the brand that has made it its mission to curate unforgettable experiences across the country’s most vibrant cities.

Young Jonn performed to a crowd that knew every record — and given his discography, that meant a night of wall-to-wall Afrobeats classics. The Grammy-nominated producer and hitmaker moved through his catalogue with the ease of someone who has spent years crafting the sounds that define a generation.

The event brought together fans and music lovers for a high-energy performance that showcased Young Jonn’s dynamic stage presence and hit-filled catalogue.

Throughout the night, Heineken provided the backdrop that a performance of this scale deserved — a premium atmosphere, ice-cold Heinekens in hand, and the kind of energy that only happens when great music meets a city that has been waiting for its moment.

Young Jonn Live was the capital’s Easter celebration done right — proof that Abuja’s cultural scene is as alive and as deserving of the spotlight as anywhere in Nigeria. Heineken made sure of it.

Abuja came alive as the crowd sang along, celebrated and experienced the energy that only a Heineken-curated night can deliver.

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Doja Cat performs during Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Last week in Pretoria felt like one of those moments you know will be talked about long after the lights go down. Global Citizen brought its Move Afrika tour to South Africa for the first time, and with Doja Cat headlining, it was never going to be a quiet arrival.

The night carried a certain weight. For Doja Cat, it marked her first performance on a South African stage, but not her first connection to the country. “For a place I’ve never been to, it feels like I’ve been here before,” she told the crowd, before moving through a set that included “Paint The Town Red,” “Woman,” and “Kiss Me More.” It was a full-circle moment in more ways than one, but the story here goes beyond the music.

Doja Cat performs during Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Move Afrika, now in its third year, is being positioned as a long-term effort to build a proper touring circuit for international artists across the continent, in partnership with pgLang and Kendrick Lamar. The idea is simple but ambitious: invest in infrastructure, create jobs, support local talent, and open up more opportunities within the live events space. Since 2023, the tour has created over 3,000 job opportunities across Kigali, Lagos and Pretoria.

In Pretoria, that approach was visible from the ground up. Working with local partner Big Concerts, the entire production was delivered using a 100 percent local crew and equipment. It was a clear demonstration of what is already possible within South Africa’s live events industry when the right investment and trust are in place. Local vendor Mushroom Productions also played a key role in bringing the show together.

That focus on local capacity extended to young people looking to enter the industry. Through the Youth Technical Production Pathway, launched in partnership with Gearhouse South Africa Group and the Gearhouse Kentse Mpahlwa Academy, ten young people from Johannesburg and Pretoria, aged between 18 and 26, received hands-on training in lighting, audio-visual systems and stage rigging. They were also part of the build for Doja Cat’s show, giving them direct exposure to what it takes to deliver a production at that scale. The programme is designed as a pathway into accredited training and long-term careers in live event production.

From Pretoria, the story moves to Kigali, where the same vision is taking shape in a different context. Move Afrika: Kigali, delivered with Done and Dusted and the Rwanda Events Group, has steadily increased its use of local crew, moving from 75 percent in 2023 to nearly full localisation in 2026. A small group of international specialists supported the production, providing training and technical guidance along the way.

The scale of what was built in Kigali this year says a lot about that progress. The entire stage was sourced locally, including 880 LED panels, making it one of the most ambitious productions ever staged in Rwanda. Audio and lighting fixtures were 98 percent locally sourced, while rigging was 95 percent provided locally, installed alongside partners from the UK’s Unusual Rigging. Local crews also worked closely with teams from PRG and Done+Dusted across different areas of production.

There was also a strong focus on safety and operations. Local private security teams received additional training through a collaboration between Crowd Minders and Global Citizen’s Safety and Security training team, with Cohort Security Group delivering a tailored programme to more than 112 personnel. The training covered pit management, backstage security protocols and scene management, all aligned with international standards.

Beyond the technical side, the tour continues to open up opportunities within hospitality and the wider events space. Through its partnership with the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Move Afrika has trained over 120 young people in Rwanda since 2023, giving them experience across event production, hospitality and the creative industries. This year, some participants moved into paid roles through collaborations with local businesses, including female-led enterprise The Financial Boutique, which employed five youth ambassadors in operational positions.

Back in Pretoria, the stage also made room for homegrown talent, with performances from Moonchild Sanelly and The Joy adding another layer to the night. It is part of a wider approach that places African artists alongside international acts, rather than as an afterthought.

For a long time, Africa has sat at the edges of the global touring map, often left out of major circuits. Move Afrika is attempting to change that by building the structures that make large-scale touring possible, while still delivering the kind of live shows audiences expect.

As the music carried through Pretoria, it was clear that something larger is taking shape. The performances may draw the crowds, but it is the systems behind them that will determine what comes next—and right now, those systems are being built in real time.

See more photos:

Fans attend the Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Moonchild Sanelly performs during Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

The Joy performs during Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Doja Cat performs during Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Doja Cat performs during Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Fans attend the Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Fans attend the Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

A view of the audience as Doja Cat performs during Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

Doja Cat performs during Global Citizen’s Move Afrika: Pretoria on March 20, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Global Citizen)

The post Move Afrika Is Expanding Across Africa With a Focus on Jobs and Infrastructure appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.

Lagos’ food and lifestyle scene came alive on December 17 and 18, 2025, as thousands of guests gathered for the Foodie in Lagos Festival. A two-day celebration of food, drinks, music, and family-friendly experiences. Curated by Foodie in Lagos, the festival brought together 53 carefully selected vendors spanning food, lifestyle, and creative brands, alongside families and creators, for an immersive end-of-year experience that captured the true spirit of Detty December. 

Hosted in a vibrant open-air setting at Encourage Park, Ikoyi, the festival transformed the venue into a bustling hub of flavour, colour, and sound — offering guests the opportunity to eat, explore, shop, connect, and unwind. Over the course of two days, the festival welcomed over 3,000 attendees, underscoring its growing status as a key fixture on Lagos’ Detty December lifestyle calendar.

Watch highlights from the Foodie in Lagos Festival below. 

A Thoughtfully Curated Food Experience

At the heart of the festival was food and plenty of it. Across two days, the festival’s food vendors delivered a diverse range of offerings spanning Nigerian classics, grills, desserts, street food favourites, cocktails, and contemporary fusion dishes. From familiar crowd favourites to exciting new discoveries, attendees were spoilt for choice as they moved from stall to stall sampling flavours and discovering new brands.

The festival’s layout encouraged exploration, with clearly defined vendor zones and relaxed communal seating that made it easy for guests to enjoy meals with friends and family. Many vendors reported sell-outs across both days, reinforcing the festival’s reputation as a key platform for food businesses looking to connect directly with their audience.

More Than a Food Festival

While food was the star, the Foodie in Lagos Festival delivered much more than just great meals. Live DJ sets by DJ Slymn & Guest DJ Lolahstic kept the energy high throughout the day, while a DJ battle and artiste performances turned the evenings into a lively celebration. A live band performance added a soulful touch, giving guests moments to slow down, sing along, dance, and soak in the atmosphere. The Festival was anchored by Deji Osikoya on Day One, with MC Obinna taking over hosting duties on Day Two, while Oludamee hosted the festival’s red carpet — ensuring seamless flow, high energy, and engaging moments throughout the event on both days.

Interactive brand activations dotted the venue, creating engaging experiences that blended seamlessly into the festival environment. From kids’ play areas and game zones to experiential brand spaces and garden-style seating, brands connected meaningfully with guests without disrupting the flow of the event.

Family-Friendly Fun at the Christmas Village

One of the standout attractions was the Christmas Village, curated in partnership with Tinsel Town and thoughtfully integrated into the festival experience. Designed with families in mind, the village offered a range of festive and creative activities for children, making the festival a truly inclusive event.

Young guests enjoyed bead-making workshops, cookie decorating classes, a Santa Grotto experience, and performances at the Elf Play House Theatre. Pamper sessions by Dermaspace added a gentle wellness element, ensuring both kids and parents could relax and enjoy the moment.

The Christmas Village reflected the festival’s commitment to creating a space where families could participate fully, rather than feeling like an afterthought.

Powered by Strong Brand Partnerships

The Foodie in Lagos Festival was supported by a strong lineup of partners who helped elevate the overall experience. Sponsors including Jameson, Flutterwave, Desperados, Mich & Kay, Nestlé Pure Life, Lagos State Parks & Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Page Asset Management Limited, Luxe Bounce, and 88 Games contributed to the seamless execution of the event.

Media partners BellaNaija, Olori Supergal, and My Lagos App helped amplify the festival’s reach, ensuring moments from the event travelled far beyond the venue.

A Defining Moment for Foodie in Lagos

For Foodie in Lagos, the festival marked a defining milestone, translating over a decade of digital food storytelling into a shared, real-world experience. Founded in 2013, Foodie in Lagos has grown into one of the city’s most trusted voices in food and lifestyle, consistently shaping conversations around where and how Lagos eats.

As the platform’s second festival, the Foodie in Lagos Festival reflected both the depth of its community and the strength of the trust it has built with audiences, vendors, and brands over the years. What began as an online dining guide has evolved into a platform capable of curating large-scale, community-driven experiences that celebrate Lagos’ ever-evolving food culture.

Held on December 17 and 18, 2025, the Foodie in Lagos Festival firmly established itself as a standout on Lagos’ Detty December calendar. Its inclusion in CNN’s 2025 Detty December line-up further underscored the festival’s growing cultural relevance, placing it among the season’s most anticipated food and lifestyle events.

If you missed out on the experience, highlights from the Foodie in Lagos Festival are available to view across Foodie in Lagos’ digital platforms.

For more information, please visit the Website.
Instagram: @foodieinlagos | @foodieinlagosfest
Threads: @foodieinlagos

 

BellaNaija is a Media Partner for Foodie In Lagos

The post A Detty December to Remember: Recapping The Foodie In Lagos Festival appeared first on BellaNaija - Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.