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.

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.

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There’s something about a night where music meets purpose, and Move Afrika: Kigali delivered just that. Global Citizen returned to BK Arena for another unforgettable edition, bringing together live music, community, and citizen-led advocacy in one vibrant space.

At the centre of it all was Doja Cat, who headlined the night with an electrifying set that had the sold-out crowd completely locked in. From “Paint The Town Red” to “Woman,” “Streets,” “Need to Know,” and “Jealous Type,” it was hit after hit. At one point, she paused, taking it all in, and shared a heartfelt moment with the audience: “This is my first time in Africa… I love you… thank you so much Rwanda.”

The energy didn’t stop there. DJ IRAA also took to the stage, adding her own flavour to a night that celebrated both global and homegrown talent.

Beyond the music, Move Afrika continues to grow into something much bigger. As Global Citizen Co-Founder and CEO Hugh Evans shared, the vision is to build a pan-African touring circuit that not only brings international artists to the continent but also creates real opportunities within the creative economy. From local vendors to production crews, the impact stretches far beyond the stage.

“Global Citizen launched Move Afrika to build the first ever touring circuit for international artists in Africa, and create thousands of jobs in the creative economy,” he said. “And Kigali, we could not have chosen a better place to start!”

Now in its third year, the initiative is steadily building momentum, with previous editions featuring global stars like John Legend and Kendrick Lamar, alongside landmark performances from Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Usher, Davido, Tiwa Savage, SZA, Stormzy, and Tems across cities like Johannesburg, Lagos, and Accra.

With Kigali setting the tone once again, the tour now moves on to its next stop in Pretoria, South Africa on 20th March.

Were you there? See how it all went down and relive the moments.

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For more information visit moveafrika.org.

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