American musician John Legend has stood by his decision to perform in Rwanda despite mounting criticism over the country’s alleged involvement in the ongoing war in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Speaking to the BBC after his concert in Kigali, Legend dismissed calls to cancel his performance, arguing that punishing ordinary Rwandans for their government’s actions was not the right approach. “I don’t believe that we should punish the people of Rwanda and punish the people of other countries when we disagree with their leaders,” he stated.
Legend’s remarks come amid escalating violence in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels—reportedly backed by Rwanda—have seized key cities. Evidence suggests that around 4,000 Rwandan troops have crossed into Congolese territory, exacerbating the crisis. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced, and reports of brutal violence, including the rape of children, have surged.
Legend’s participation in the Move Afrika event in Kigali, organized by Global Citizen, sparked heated debate. Critics argue that his involvement indirectly legitimized Rwanda’s actions, especially given his influential “EGOT” status, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Nigerian singer Tems, another Grammy winner, took a different stance, canceling her own concert in Rwanda, stating she would “never, ever intend to be insensitive to real-world issues.”
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Despite the backlash, Legend defended his performance, emphasizing his commitment to boosting Africa’s live music scene. “I’m aware of what’s happening [in DRC] and I’m aware of the calls there have been for me to not do this show, but I really believe that the mission of Move Afrika is still important,” he explained, adding that he was not paid for the concert.
Fans at the sold-out show welcomed his presence, but social media was far less forgiving. The criticism became intense enough that Legend deleted an Instagram post promoting the event. Activist Denise Zanesa, based in Belgium, condemned his participation, likening it to “collaborating with oppression itself.” Others, such as US-based Simone Umba, accused Rwanda of leveraging Black American culture to “normalize their terrorizing of eastern Congo.”
The controversy surrounding Legend’s performance is particularly striking given his history of taking strong political positions. He has been vocal in his opposition to former US President Donald Trump and distanced himself from ex-mentor Kanye West over his presidential run, suspecting it was an effort to divert Black votes away from the Democrats.
Rwanda’s engagement with global figures has sparked similar criticism in the past. The country has been accused of using high-profile partnerships in sports—such as its sponsorships of Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain—to improve its international image while deflecting attention from alleged human rights violations.
When asked for his stance on Rwanda’s broader public relations strategies, Legend’s representative declined to comment, reinforcing the idea that, for the singer, the music should speak for itself.
