A section of netizens had called on the EGOT-winning artist to cancel his show in Kigali, where he headlined the second edition of Move Afrika, citing the ongoing stand-off between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the root causes of the conflict in eastern Congo.

"I’m aware of what’s happening, and I’m aware of the calls for me not to do this show, but I really believe that the mission of Move Afrika is still important," Legend said in a recent interview with the BBC.

He noted that fans should not suffer because of disagreements between leaders.

"It’s still important to bring international touring to Rwanda and to other places around the continent, and I didn’t want to abandon that mission just because I may not agree with everything that the leader of the country does. I don’t agree with everything the leader of my country does," he remarked.

He added, "I don’t believe that we should punish the people of Rwanda and the people of other countries when we disagree with their leaders."

Congolese authorities have long accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group. Rwanda has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that M23 fighters are Congolese citizens fighting against decades of marginalisation and persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking nationals.

Additionally, Rwanda has dismissed claims that it has mineral interests in the DRC, instead arguing that Congolese leadership is using the accusations to divert attention from governance and mismanagement issues.

John Legend performed in Kigali on February 21, 2025, despite the pressure, unlike Grammy-winning singer Tems, whose recent cancellation over the same conflict drew criticism from Rwandan fans.

Tems was scheduled to perform in Kigali on 22 March 2025 as part of her Born in the Wild world tour, which includes stops in major African cities such as Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Accra, and Addis Ababa. Her decision to pull out of the event sparked criticism from Rwandan fans.

Concerns over the lack of international tours in Africa have persisted for years, with some attributing it to inadequate entertainment infrastructure. Addressing this issue, John Legend emphasised the need for development in the sector.

"I think there does need to be more development when it comes to making it possible for more acts to come and tour here."

Move Afrika, a pioneering music touring circuit by Global Citizen, aims to drive economic growth, job creation, and entrepreneurship across Africa through world-class entertainment events.

The 2025 tour will expand from East to West Africa, with Nigeria as the next host country.

The project also seeks to set a new gold standard for entertainment events, boosting demand for international and regional artists to tour Africa.

It was a show of might on Friday, February, 21, 2025 as renowned America artist John Legend performed at the second edition of Move Afrika concert at the BK Arena in Kigali.

Thousands of fans attended John Legend's concert at BK Arena in Kigali, including President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame.

President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame attended the show.