Doja Cat has been announced as the headliner for Move Afrika 2026, the third edition of the pioneering pan-African touring circuit led by Global Citizen. The Grammy® award-winning artist will top the bill in Kigali, Rwanda, and Pretoria, South Africa, this March, as the initiative continues its mission to reshape Africa’s creative economy.
The tour begins with Move Afrika: Kigali at the BK Arena on March 17, followed by Move Afrika: Pretoria at the SunBet Arena, Time Square on March 20.
Now in its third year, Move Afrika is building what organizers describe as the first-ever pan-African music touring circuit — one designed not only to entertain, but to create jobs, stimulate investment, and unlock long-term economic growth across the continent.
More Than a Tour — A Touring Economy
Launched to place Africa’s creative excellence at the center of the international live music circuit, Move Afrika has quickly become a catalyst for economic participation.
Since its inception, the initiative has created more than 2,500 jobs in Kigali and Lagos, with over 90 percent of crew and production roles filled by local talent. In Kigali alone, the percentage of local crew rose from 75 percent in 2023 to 90 percent in 2025, while 95 percent of audio and lighting equipment was sourced locally.
In Lagos, 90 percent of crew were hired locally and 95 percent of equipment was locally sourced, with contracts awarded to domestic vendors in technical production, staging and event design.
Ahead of the 2026 edition, further employment opportunities are planned, alongside an expansion of youth training initiatives. Through the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, 50 young people have already received paid, hands-on training in production and event operations — strengthening skills in rigging, security and hospitality.
Move Afrika’s long-term ambition is bold: to establish a gold standard for touring events in Africa, increase demand from international and regional artists, and build local capacity in host cities as the circuit expands across the continent over the next five years.
Kigali and Pretoria Take Center Stage
Rwanda returns as a host nation, with Move Afrika: Kigali held in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board. South Africa joins again as the circuit expands, reinforcing the initiative’s continental footprint.
Jean-Guy Afrika, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, said the partnership reflects Rwanda’s commitment to elevating Africa’s creative industries and positioning the country as a premier destination for live entertainment — one that creates jobs for young people and unlocks new economic opportunities.
Hugh Evans, Co-Founder and CEO of Global Citizen, described Doja Cat as a defining force who has delivered standout performances at some of the organization’s most iconic moments — from Paris to New York and the historic FIFA Club World Cup™ Final Halftime Show. He said Move Afrika is redefining global touring by placing Africa’s creative excellence at the center of the international circuit while driving long-term economic growth powered by culture.
For Doja Cat, the moment carries personal significance.
“From my South African roots straight to the world stage, we’re bringing energy, purpose, and real change to Move Afrika in Kigali and Pretoria. This isn’t just a tour, it’s a movement that creates jobs and opportunities that last,” she said. “I’m proud to be part of something that celebrates Africa’s creativity, invests in its future, and shows the world that Africa isn’t coming, it’s already here.”
Tickets and Access
Tickets for Move Afrika: Kigali are available via moveafrika.org.
For Move Afrika: Pretoria, ticket access is structured as follows:
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Mastercard cardholders receive special presale access from 9am on Monday, 16 February until 8:59am on Wednesday, 18 February.
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World and World Elite Mastercard cardholders receive preferred ticket access from 9am on Wednesday, 18 February via priceless.com/music.
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The Big Concerts Fan Club presale runs from 9am on Tuesday, 17 February until 8:59am on Wednesday, 18 February.
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General public sales open at 9am on Wednesday, 18 February via ticketmaster.co.za.
Additional details — including how to earn limited free tickets by taking action with Global Citizen — will be announced in the coming weeks.
Culture Meets Advocacy
Move Afrika 2026 builds on last year’s citizen-led advocacy campaign calling for stronger health systems across Africa. In the lead-up to each event, Global Citizen will campaign alongside local partners to urge African nations to strengthen primary care, advance sexual and reproductive health and rights, invest in health resilience, and reduce financial barriers to public health.
Coinciding with the tour, the Music Economy Development Initiative (MEDI) — launched alongside last year’s campaign in partnership with Global Citizen, Universal Music Group and IFC — will release new research aimed at driving music policy reform and positioning music financing as a key driver of sustainable growth in Africa’s creative economy.
Move Afrika partners include pgLang, Big Concerts, Major Tour Partner Cisco, and the Rwanda Development Board. Media partners include BellaNaija, EIB Network, Rolling Stone Africa, TIME Africa, TimesLIVE and Vanguard Media.
A Growing Legacy
The 2026 installment builds on a growing legacy of large-scale events across the continent. Previous editions have featured global artists including John Legend, who headlined Move Afrika: Kigali and Lagos in 2025, and Kendrick Lamar, who led the inaugural Move Afrika: Rwanda in 2023.
Global Citizen’s history in Africa also includes Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in Johannesburg in 2018, Global Citizen Live: Lagos in 2021, and Global Citizen Festival: Accra in 2022 — events that fused star power with civic action.
With Doja Cat now set to headline in Kigali and Pretoria, Move Afrika 2026 signals a new chapter — one where music is not just performance, but policy; not just spectacle, but strategy.
Africa isn’t waiting to be discovered. It is building its own stage.
