President Paul Kagame praised the transformative potential of the Move Afrika partnership during his virtual address on May 2 at the Global Citizen Now summit in New York. The summit focused on urgent actions to fulfill basic needs worldwide.
Move Afrika, an initiative by Global Citizen, aims to spur economic investment and job creation through Pan-African music tours, with its inaugural event held in Rwanda in December 2023.
“Rwanda was honored to host the first-ever Move Afrika concert last December. We eagerly anticipate our continued collaboration with Global Citizen over the next four years,” Kagame remarked.
He emphasized the significance of Move Afrika in cultivating the professional workforce necessary to support large-scale concert tours, foreseeing enduring contributions to Africa’s creative industry, valued at billions of dollars.
Moreover, Kagame underscored the potential for this initiative to reshape Africa’s economy and global perceptions of the continent’s youth.
With the creative economy estimated at a staggering $4.3 trillion globally, its role in Africa’s development cannot be understated.
Kagame articulated that Move Afrika aligns with last year’s focus on bolstering healthcare systems, particularly through community health workers, emphasizing the unifying power of music in fostering strength amidst global complexities.
Global Citizen, an advocacy organization committed to eradicating extreme poverty and fostering economic opportunities for young Africans, resonates with Kagame’s vision. Being a Global Citizen entails addressing systemic inequalities and taking sustainable action to overcome them.
Kagame highlighted the nexus between human capital, economic growth, and stability, reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to prioritizing its people through investments in healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Neglecting human capital, he cautioned, could spur migration driven by the pursuit of better opportunities elsewhere.
Furthermore, Kagame emphasized Rwanda’s forward-thinking approach, characterized by investments in technology, innovation, and efforts to attract top African talent to test digital solutions and startups within the country.
Reflecting on Rwanda’s journey from the devastation of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to its current trajectory of development driven by self-reliance, Kagame emphasized resilience and progress.
