In celebration of the ‘Giants of Africa’ nonprofit organization’s 20th anniversary, Spotify joined forces to host the inaugural ‘Giants of Africa’ Festival, a week-long extravaganza in Kigali, Rwanda. This unique festival united young people from 16 different nations, harnessing the power of basketball to educate and empower African youths, encouraging them to dream big.
The BK Arena was the place to be on Saturday, August 19, as eager fans filled the venue for the closing concert, presented by Spotify. The evening saw electrifying performances from music sensations Davido, Tiwa Savage, Tyla, and Bruce Melodie, captivating the pan-African audience. These four artists, known for their strong following among 18-24-year-olds on Spotify, were the perfect choice to conclude a week dedicated to inspiring youths through sports, music, and dance.
Taking the stage first, Spotify Africa RADAR artist Tyla wowed the crowd with her unique blend of Amapiano infused with Afrobeats, pop, and R&B. She kicked off her set with the chart-topping track “Getting Late,” a collaboration with Kooldrink and her most-streamed song on Spotify. Notably, her music resonates most strongly with listeners in Nigeria, thanks to her collaboration with Nigeria’s Ayra Starr on “Girl Next Door,” her second most-streamed track, which she also performed at the Giants of Africa event. Her music also found fans in Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania.
Tyla’s performance wasn’t complete without mesmerizing choreography, executed flawlessly by her dancers, leaving the audience in awe.
Next up was the highly anticipated performance by Davido, whose fan base spans across the continent, from Nigeria and South Africa to Ghana, Kenya, and Zambia. He delivered an electrifying show, opening with “Over Dem” from his “Timeless” album, one of his most-streamed tracks on Spotify. Davido then took the audience on a journey through his greatest hits, including “Dami Duro,” “FIA,” “Jowo,” “If,” “Fall,” and “Risky,” among others. The show continued with “High,” “Ke Star,” and “Champion Sound.” The climax came with his viral hit “Unavailable,” the most-streamed song on “Timeless” and a favorite among 18-24-year-olds, soundtracking numerous dance videos.
The grand finale featured the queen of Afrobeats, Tiwa Savage, who boasts a pan-African fan base, with listeners hailing from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda. She began her performance with “49-99,” one of her most-playlisted songs on Spotify, followed by “Ma Lo,” her second most-streamed track. Tiwa treated the audience to a medley of hits, including “KEYS TO THE KINGDOM,” “Like,” “Pick Up,” and an acapella rendition of “Somebody’s Son.” The crowd favorites included “Who Is Your Guy” and her most-streamed Spotify song, “Koroba.” She closed the show with “Stamina,” her top-exported track among 18-35-year-olds, solidifying her status as the reigning queen of Afrobeats.
Reflecting on the event, Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy expressed her pleasure in partnering with Giants of Africa, emphasizing the importance of supporting Africa’s youth through such collaborations. The festival showcased Africa’s top-tier talent and left a lasting impact on the continent’s future leaders.
