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African Stars Tour Globe, Bypass Continent
6 May
Summary
- African artists embark on global tours, skipping continent shows.
- High intra-African airfares and lack of venues impede tours.
- Fans are priced out, consuming culture via phones.
African music's global surge sees artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tyla commanding international stages, yet consistently performing across their home continent remains a significant challenge. This paradox creates a cultural disconnect, as local audiences increasingly consume their own music digitally.
The absence of a cohesive African touring infrastructure stems from colonial borders, expensive intra-African travel, and a shortage of standardized venues. High airfares, often 40-60% more than European routes, and security risks on underdeveloped road networks make touring prohibitive.
Furthermore, a deficit of mid-sized indoor arenas suitable for concerts hinders large-scale events. When such venues are unavailable, promoters must build temporary structures, increasing costs which are passed on to fans, making tickets unaffordable for many.
Global investment is now entering the African music scene, with companies like Live Nation developing infrastructure. However, this raises concerns about dependence on foreign entities and the potential for the industry to become externally controlled.
