African music stars Tyla and Ayra Starr are set to bring Afropop vibrance to the 2025 Global Citizen Festival, taking place on September 27 at Central Park’s iconic Great Lawn in New York City. The international advocacy organization, Global Citizen, has unveiled a star-studded lineup headlined by global superstars The Weeknd and Shakira, with performances from Mariah the Scientist joining the two African sensations.
This year’s festival continues Global Citizen’s mission of ending extreme poverty through advocacy and action, and will be hosted once again by longtime Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman. “The 2025 Global Citizen Festival marks my eleventh year as host,” said Jackman. “The growing impact of the Global Citizen movement touches every corner of the world.”
Shakira, who returns to the stage as a headline act, expressed her excitement, saying, “Music has always been my way of connecting with people and leaving a mark on the world. I can’t wait to perform, unite, and inspire action.”
Among the most anticipated performers, South African Tyla made history earlier this year as the first-ever recipient of the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for her viral hit “Water.” At just 22, she became the youngest African artist to achieve that feat, symbolising the continent’s expanding influence on global pop culture.
Nigerian star Ayra Starr is also riding high, having recently signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label. With MOBO and BET awards already under her belt, Starr is firmly positioning Afrobeats on the world stage.
This year’s festival campaign will spotlight several ambitious goals: providing energy access to 1 million people across Africa, enabling 30,000 children worldwide to access quality education and football in partnership with FIFA, mobilizing $200 million to protect 30 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest, and registering 40,000 New Yorkers to volunteer.
Tickets to the Global Citizen Festival are free and can be earned through advocacy actions via the Global Citizen app or website. With Tyla and Ayra Starr representing Africa’s cultural power, the 2025 edition promises a dynamic fusion of music, activism, and global unity.
