After Travis Scott’s high-profile show in South Africa sparked debate about what it takes to truly “sell out” an African tour, the question on everyone’s mind is: who’s next? We’ve seen social media ignite with speculation – Drake, who’s long co-signed African acts like Wizkid, Rema, Black Coffee, and Kelvin Momo; Adele, whose emotional resonance would play deeply here; or The Weeknd — of Ethiopian heritage — whose alt-R&B has already captured playlists from SA to Ghana.
Besides kendrick, i don’t think a single other rap artist could pull this type of crowd in Africa. https://t.co/i8nMnKmOuy
— chrxs (@chrxsafc) October 11, 2025
The attention isn’t just about stardom – it’s about timing, alignment with African scenes, and overcoming systemic barriers. As Billboard once explored, Africa’s touring infrastructure is a hurdle few international artists fully navigate. Promoters often wrestle with venue quality, import duties, power supply, and logistical gaps.
Still, each of these artists has a thread tying them to Africa’s music story. Drake’s global stardom and mass appeal locally, as well as African influences across his discography after collabs with Black Coffee and Wizkid. Adele’s concerts could lean into acoustic intimacy – the kind audiences crave after local fans have been wowed by visuals of her overseas performances. The Weeknd’s darker tones and live performance theatrics match the high-quality production African audiences crave.
X (formerly known as Twitter) threads show fans lending their opinions:
adele could easily fill up FNB stadium three nights in a row.
— ☆ (@BALUCIAGA) October 6, 2025
Drake could actually fill up FNB 3 days in a row…
— Benzo🦈 (@_BenzoW) October 11, 2025
Beeeeeen telling them. The Weeknd, Drake, or Adele will be our next new national hit. They will HAVE to do multiple cities and possibly 2-3 nights at FNB. https://t.co/5AO0LRXbMh
— Gɪᴠᴇɴ Aʀᴇɴᴀs 🇨🇩 (@itsBigSexy_) October 12, 2025
One truth is clear: the next act to truly sell out across major African cities won’t just make headlines, they’ll change how global touring approaches the continent. And if it’s one of these three? Africa will be ready.
