The incredible lineup of performers, artists, and luminaries joining the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 in South Africa, in proud partnership with the Motsepe Foundation, just got even better.
Trevor Noah — comedian, political commentator, actor, and host of The Daily Show — has been announced as the host of the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, the free-ticketed event taking place on 2 December at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, honouring the legacy of Nelson Mandela in his centenary year and presenting the biggest campaign on the Global Goals to end extreme poverty ever.
Read More: How to Get Free Tickets to Global Citizen Festival in South Africa
Noah will be joined by comedian, actor, writer, and producer Dave Chappelle, as well as award-winning South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha as co-hosts.
The lineup of co-hosts will also feature Naomi Campbell, Sir Bob Geldof, Gayle King, Bonang Matheba, Tyler Perry, and Forest Whitaker. Oprah Winfrey will deliver a special keynote address remembering Nelson Mandela and his legacy.
And multi-Grammy Award winner Kacey Musgraves will perform at the festival, alongside headliners Beyoncé & JAY-Z, Cassper Nyovest, D'banj, Ed Sheeran, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Pharrell Williams & Chris Martin, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher, and Wizkid.
“It is an honour to be a part of the Global Citizen Festival event celebrating the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela,” Noah told The Hollywood Reporter. “I am where I am today living as a free South African because of much of what he did, and so I'm beyond excited to be teaming up with so many others to pay tribute to the man in his home country.”
Musgraves told Billboard, "I’m so thrilled to be heading to South Africa to be part of Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100. I’m humbled to be able to work with such an incredible organization and help bring attention to the tireless work they do to end extreme poverty."
“I’m so proud to be standing alongside Global Citizens who are dedicated to shaping humanity and advocating for systemic change and living a life full of purpose,” Mbatha told People. “Nelson Mandela’s legacy implores and challenges us to live a life of service to each other and especially the marginalized.”
K Naomi, Lucas Radebe, Nandi Madida, Pearl Thusi, Somizi, and Zakes Bantwini will also join the event as Global Citizen: Mandela 100 Advocates to support the campaign against extreme poverty.
Read More: This Photographer Spent Years Documenting the Public and Private Life of Nelson Mandela
The Mandela 100 Festival is the capstone event of Global Citizen’s year-long Be the Generation campaign, in partnership with the House of Mandela, inspired by the revered former leader of South Africa and his lifelong dedication to rallying people together to use their collective voices to speak for the most marginalized people.
In one of his last public speeches, Mandela famously called for this generation to realise an end to extreme poverty. In addition to the Mandela 100 Festival, Global Citizen has campaigned on his message with activist-driven events in Vancouver, London, Brussels, and at the upcoming 2018 Global Citizen Festival to be held in New York’s Central Park on 29 September.
As is always the case with Global Citizen festivals, tickets to Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 are free. Today’s announcements coincide with the launch of Action Journey 1, through which fans and activists can take action on key policy issues in South Africa and across the continent, and enter for a chance to win free tickets to the festival.
Starting today, you can take action on the Global Citizen platforms — GlobalCitizen.org.za, in the Global Citizen app, or with the Facebook Messenger bot (search “Global Citizen” in Facebook Messenger to learn more).
Take Action: Action Journey 1
These actions include asking Nigeria’s state governors to invest in water and sanitation; urging Zambia to help children live free from hunger and malnutrition; calling on the finance ministers of Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya to lift millions from poverty by raising the agriculture budget; and asking Rwanda to help end neglected tropical diseases and improve nutrition across Africa.
Global Citizen is also partnering with the City of Johannesburg, with the support of Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba, on a city-wide cleanup campaign launching on 15 September. Johannesburg residents will be able to participate in three cleanup sessions — one every month between September and November — for the chance to win free tickets to the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100.
The organisation will also support youth skills development in South Africa through the Global Citizen Fellowship Program, offering year-long paid fellowships to young South Africans to gain valuable work experience across content, campaigns, marketing, and events. Additionally, Global Citizen is partnering with Tshepo 1 Million, powered by Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator — a youth skills empowerment initiative by the Gauteng Provincial Government — to "source, train, and manage 75 young, unemployed volunteers" for the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100.
"South Africa has made unbelievable strides since the end of apartheid in 1994, yet it is still beset by economic trouble: more than half of the country’s youth population is unemployed and more than a quarter of South Africans still live in extreme poverty," Kweku Mandela, a grandson of Nelson Mandela and executive producer of Mandela 100, told The Hollywood Reporter.
"With the Global Citizen Fellowship Program, we are committed to building economic and leadership opportunities for generations of South Africans to come," he said. "December 2nd isn't the end of Global Citizen's journey in South Africa, it is the beginning."
Read More: How We Can Be the Generation to End Extreme Poverty
Since the first Global Citizen Festival in New York in 2012, Global Citizens have generated commitments and policy announcements from leaders valued at more than $37.9 billion, set to affect the lives of more than 2.25 billion people. This year alone, Global Citizens have secured 29 commitments totaling more than $2.9 billion, set to affect the lives of more than 501 million people by 2030.
So, get started now! Embark on the first action journey here, and learn more about how to take action and get a chance to win free tickets here.
Still have questions? Head over to our FAQ page here.
The Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 is presented and hosted by The Motsepe Foundation, with major partners House of Mandela, Johnson & Johnson, Cisco, Nedbank, Vodacom, Coca Cola Africa, Big Concerts, BMGF Goalkeepers, Eldridge Industries, and associate partners HP and Microsoft.
