economy
Burna Boy, Wizkid, Tyla and more took African pop global. So why don’t they tour Africa itself?
Due to many obstacles – from security to air fares – local fans lose out as African artists tour overseas instead. But as western corporations invest, there are more worries besides
TL;DR
- Major African artists, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Tyla, are achieving global stardom but rarely include African cities on their world tours.
- Obstacles to continent-wide touring include high intra-African airfares (40-60% higher than European routes), poor road networks, security risks like banditry, and a shortage of standardized venues.
- The lack of suitable indoor arenas ('missing middle' venues) and the difficulty of selling enough tickets at profitable margins in large stadiums further complicate touring.
- Lower streaming revenue in African countries compared to Western markets, coupled with high international booking fees, makes overseas tours financially more attractive for artists.
- Western investment, such as Live Nation's expansion into Africa, brings capital but raises concerns about dependence on external infrastructure and potential loss of control over the local music industry.
- High ticket prices for concerts within Africa, often exceeding a month's salary for locals, are pricing out many fans, forcing them to consume music through digital means like live streams.