As Africa’s creative economy grows, so are the cities shaping its direction. For the third year now, Move Afrika returns to Kigali, Rwanda. And each year, the question becomes less about why Kigali, and more about how this city has remained at the center of Africa’s creative future.

The answer begins with its people.

Kigali reflects the energy of a continent where the median age is just 19.3 years, making Africa the youngest region in the world. This demographic reality is not simply a statistic; it is a living, breathing force. It means energy. It means imagination. It means a generation eager to build, create, and connect.

Across Africa, the creative economy is gaining recognition as a major driver of opportunity and growth. Africa’s film and audiovisual sector alone has the potential to create over 20 million jobs and generate $20 billion in annual revenue. 

More broadly, the African Development Bank has identified cultural and creative industries as a booming growth opportunity within broader economic diversification efforts across the continent. Through initiatives such as Fashionomics Africa — which supports entrepreneurs in fashion and textiles with training, financing access, and market linkages — the Bank is investing in sectors like music, film, design, and digital content as engines of growth, enterprise development, and job creation.

Kigali has positioned itself at the heart of this momentum.

Over the past decade, Rwanda has invested in infrastructure, technology, and cultural platforms that enable creativity to grow — from expanding nationwide digital access through initiatives like the Rwanda Digital Acceleration Project, which strengthens the digital innovation ecosystem, to developing purpose-built venues such as BK Arena in Kigali, one of East Africa’s largest indoor event spaces. 

Rwanda’s business environment is also recognized for its regulatory efficiency; it recently topped Africa in the World Bank’s Business Ready (B-READY) 2025 report for its strong regulatory framework and operational efficiency that supports enterprise growth. Together, these investments have helped create an environment where entrepreneurs — from live event producers to fashion founders — can build with confidence.

But infrastructure alone does not explain why Kigali resonates.

What makes Kigali distinctive is its sense of intentionality. Yes the city feels planned, but it also feels personal. There is a shared belief that growth should be sustainable, that opportunities should be long-term, and that partnerships should extend beyond a single event.

Move Afrika was built on that same belief.

When we launched Move Afrika, the vision was clear: to create a touring circuit that strengthens local ecosystems, connects global and African talent, and delivers measurable economic impact. This is not about parachuting in for a moment. It is about building lasting pathways — for artists, for creators, for production professionals, for entrepreneurs.

In Kigali, that vision finds fertile ground.

Each year, Move Afrika works alongside local production teams, vendors, and creative professionals. The impact extends beyond the stage lights. It touches hospitality workers, transportation providers, small retailers, and young people gaining hands-on experience in live event production.

Rwanda’s travel and tourism sector contributed approximately 9.8 % of the country’s GDP in 2024, marking its strongest economic performance and underscoring the growing importance of the sector to the country’s broader economy. Large-scale cultural events are part of this ecosystem, drawing regional and international visitors while strengthening local economies.

Yet statistics only tell part of the story. The deeper story is about belief.

It’s about believing in the student studying sound engineering who now sees a future in live production. It’s about the choreographer collaborating across borders for the first time. It’s about the audience member who looks at the stage and recognizes themselves — their city, their language, their rhythm — reflected back at them.

Move Afrika keeps touching down in Kigali because its people understand that creativity is not an accessory to development. It is part of it.

It’s about the audience member who looks at the stage and recognizes themselves — their city, their language, their rhythm — reflected back at them.

As trade barriers decrease, so does the friction that can limit the movement of creative goods, services, and talent. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the world’s largest free trade area by number of participating countries, bringing together African Union member states to create a single market and boost intra-African trade and regional economic integration. And across the continent, creative industries are increasingly recognized as central to economic resilience and cultural exchange.

A platform like Move Afrika aligns naturally with this moment. It connects cities. It builds regional bridges. It demonstrates that African audiences can anchor world-class experiences — and that those experiences can, in turn, strengthen Africa.

And Kigali’s consistency matters.

In its third year hosting Move Afrika, the city is no longer simply a tour stop. It is a partner in a longer journey. Returning year after year has allowed relationships to deepen. This continuity is critical. 

Too often, creative momentum can be fragmented with bursts of energy without sustained follow-through. By returning and investing in where we started, Move Afrika reinforces the idea that creative ecosystems grow strongest through repetition, trust, and shared ownership.

There is also symbolism in Kigali’s rise. It is not just a place to meet; it is a place to create.

Over the next three decades, Africa’s urban population is projected to double, rising from roughly 700 million to 1.4 billion by 2050, reflecting rapid urbanization across the continent. Cities like Kigali offer a blueprint for how growth, culture, and innovation can move together.

At its core, Move Afrika is about connection. Kigali keeps showing up because it understands that connection is powerful. It turns concerts into classrooms. It turns stages into springboards. It turns moments into momentum.

On event night, as the lights dim and the music begins, the world may see a performance. But beneath the surface is something larger: years of preparation, partnership, and a shared commitment to building up African cities’ creative future.

For three years and counting, Kigali has not just hosted that future. It has helped shape it.

And if the energy in the crowds is any indication, this is only the beginning in a city that knows its potential.

Click here for more on Move Afrika and how you can get your hands on tickets.