#GlobalCitizenFestivalSA: Global Icons on one stage for a worthy cause

We have been talking about the Global Citizen Festival for the most parts of last month and the beginning of this month for the fact that, for once an iconic concert is staged on the African soil to push for the agenda of ending the poverty by 2030 – it was all hands on deck this weekend.

The 2018 edition was subtitled Mandela 100 in celebration, as a remembrance of one of the greatest and selfless figures in modern history,for his commitment towards fighting problems such as apartheid, poverty, lack of education towards levelling of the playing field for all people regardless of background, colour or sex.

The biggest headliners started in Africa where Nigeria’s Wizkid, Tiwa Savage and Dbanj were enlisted alongside South Africa’s most outstanding music exports of recent times – Cassper Nyovest, Soweto Gospel Choir, Sho Madjozi and DJ Black Coffee, on the same stage as world music chart dominators, Ed Sheeran, Chris Martin from Coldplay, Pharrell Williams, Usher, celebrity superpower couple, Beyonce and Jay Z, and more at the FnB Stadium, Johannesburg.

Cassper Nyovest gave one hell of a top-notch performance to solidify his name in the ranks of African Entertainment legends, garnering the star attention from the world at large. The attention was so remarkable that fans are speculating that he might have stollen the show from global icons Beyonce and Jay Z. Leader singer of Coldplay, Chris Martin also joined him on stage as well as UK artist Stormzy to give us a first-time listen to their new collaborated single in honor of the Global Citizen concert. Where he gets is energy from is something we can’t comprehend right now because the previous day he staged another version of his annual #FillUpTheStadium concert at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.

We can’t leave out Wizkid, Tiwa Savage and Dbanj who echoed the Afrobeats genre so loud at every corner of the stadium in front of the world’s eyes and ears. There were great speeches delivered by British supermodel, Naomi Campbell, celebrated media maven, Oprah Winfrey, the grandkids of Nelson Mandela and more charity leaders from around the continent. The surprise guest appearance was stolen by American comedian, Dave Chappelle, who jokingly warned Trevor Noah that he would steal his role as host. Trevor Noah was alongside local celebrities such as Bonang Matheba, Pearl Thusi, Nomzamo Mabatha, Boitumelo Thulo. All of themstressed how important it is that Africans work together to end poverty and building peaceful global community together.

British singer, Ed Sheeran brought the ladies to their knees with loud screams around the stadium during his Perfect duet performance with Beyonce, who was joined by her husband, Jay Z as they climaxed the show in style.

The Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 raised quite a good sum of money which will be donated to cause to fight poverty through quality education and more in South Africa and other regions in Africa.

Browse through our gallery below for more.

Image Source: GettyEntertainment

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