With Global Citizen Live just around the corner on Sept. 25, we’re thrilled to announce that African representation at the once-in-a-generation event just got bigger.
Media personality and Global Citizen Advocate Bonang Matheba and actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Nomzamo Mbatha will both be taking to the stage at Global Citizen Live in New York City.
The South African personalities will be joining as presenters at the show, alongside an incredible list of hosts and artists who will be donating their time and talent to the 24-hour global broadcast.
“As social activists and advocates of goodwill through their respective philanthropic work, Ms. Matheba and Ms. Mbatha’s involvement in Global Citizen Live is a wonderful progression of our partnerships established since our Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 and our recent Vax Live campaigns," said Global Citizen's Regional Director for Southern and East Africa, Chebet Chikumbu.
She added: "We are thrilled to, yet again, continue our social impact work together with Bonang and Nomzamo and to welcome them to this once-in-a-generation event at our Central Park stage on Sept. 25.”
Nigerian TV personalities Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Nancy Isime will also be representing the continent as hosts of the highly anticipated Lagos arm of the global event. Plus, South African artist Sho Madjozi will be bringing her trademark energy-filled performance as she joins the lineup from Johannesburg alongside artist, Muzi.
They’ll be joining an epic lineup of African artists who will be performing in Lagos, Nigeria, including Femi Kuti, Made Kuti, Tiwa Savage, and Davido — not to mention the legendary Angélique Kidjo who will be adding her voice to the concert from Paris, and Burna Boy who will be joining the live event in New York.
Global Citizen Live forms part of our Recovery Plan for the World, a year-long campaign that aims to call on leaders to help end the pandemic, defeat poverty, and defend the planet. The 24-hour global broadcast will bring together activists, artists, world leaders, business leaders, and philanthropists in a united effort to kickstart an equitable global recovery.
Wondering where you can catch the action? We’ve partnered with AIM Group, Multichoice, and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to make sure that Global Citizens across Africa can watch the broadcast from wherever they are.
In Nigeria the broadcast will be live on Wazobia Max TV, Wazobia TV (DSTV Channel 259), Cool FM, and Nigeria Info Radio on the Sept. 25 from 6pm West Africa Time. In South Africa, the broadcast will be on Monday Sept. 27 on SABC’s S3 starting 10pm SAST. Across Africa the show will be broadcast through Multichoice, the date, time, and channels are still to be announced.
As well as the latest artists announced, we’ve also already announced some incredible lineups for Global Citizen Live events around the world — all part of the global 24-hour broadcast moment. These include:
- New York City: Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez, Lizzo, Meek Mill, Shawn Mendes, and special guest performances by Alessia Cara, Burna Boy, Cyndi Lauper, Jon Batiste, and Lang Lang
- Paris: Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Doja Cat, Black Eyed Peas, Stormzy, Christine and the Queens and special guest performances by Angélique Kidjo, Charlie Puth, and Fatma Said.
- Los Angeles: Stevie Wonder, Adam Lambert, Chloe x Halle, Demi Lovato, H.E.R., ONEREPUBLIC, Ozuna, The Lumineers, and 5 Seconds of Summer
- London: Duran Duran, Kylie Minogue, Måneskin, Nile Rodgers and Chic, and Rag’n’Bone Man
- Rio De Janeiro: Alok, Mart’nália, Criolo, Liniker, with special guests Tropkillaz, and Mosquito.
- Sydney: Delta Goodrem
Global Citizen Live artists rocking the stage for broadcast performances across different locations around the world include BTS from Seoul; Andrea Bocelli from Tuscany, Italy; Usher, Ricky Martin, and Keith Urban from Las Vegas; Lorde and My Morning Jacket from New York City; Lali from Buenos Aires and Camilo from Madrid, in partnership with Sony Music Latin; Metallica from Louisville; and Green Day from Los Angeles.
In order to help defend the planet and defeat poverty, the Global Citizen Live campaign is calling for the following from world leaders, corporations, philanthropists, and citizens:
- The G7 and EU to help end the pandemic by donating at least 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to those in need, and to support the proposal by South Africa and India to waive IP around the production of COVID-19 vaccines and other medical tools — backed by over 100 countries.
- The G7 and the world’s billionaires contribute at least $6 billion to famine relief efforts and the urgent provision of millions of meals for the 41 million people on the brink of starvation.
- US citizens to contact their representatives pressing for the passage of the largest climate protection bill in American history in order to set the US on track to at least half emissions by 50% by 2030. Congress plans to vote on the bill the week of Sept. 27.
- Wealthiest nations to deliver on their promise to give $100 billion annually to address the climate needs of developing countries.
“I am honored to help bring Global Citizen Live to Lagos, as we lift the voices of Africans everywhere. But what is taking place on the continent right now is a tragedy,” said musician and activist Femi Kuti.
“There is no reason that 1% of Nigerians have been vaccinated against COVID-19 while countries talk of booster shots. The G7 urgently needs to donate at least 1 billion doses by September. It’s time for our leaders to lead and act now.”
You can join Femi Kuti in this call for vaccine equity by taking action here, as well as taking action to call on world leaders, corporations, and philanthropists to make the urgent changes needed to defend the planet and defeat poverty.
You can join the Global Citizen Live campaign to defeat poverty and defend the planet by taking action here, and become part of a movement powered by citizens around the world who are taking action together with governments, corporations, and philanthropists to make change.
