Lauryn Hill and her Fugees bandmate Wyclef Jean are slated to headline the Global Citizen Festival in New York's Central Park on Sept. 26. The annual event coincides with the end of the United Nations General Assembly's high-level meetings and aims to mobilize attendees to pressure world leaders to fund antipoverty initiatives.
Joining Hill and Jean on the bill are artists including Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and K-pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER. The announcement follows recent performances by the Fugees celebrating the 30th anniversary of their album “The Score.”
Global Citizen, which recently produced the World Cup's first halftime show that raised over $60 million for an education fund with FIFA, hopes to leverage this year's festival to secure outstanding commitments. Attendees can gain entry by taking actions such as petitioning countries to contribute to international development budgets.
This year's priorities include mobilizing $100 million for 2 million children's access to education, food, and healthcare; gathering $100 million to improve food security for 1.5 million smallholder farmers; and allocating $1.5 billion for clean energy expansion in the Indo-Pacific region. Countries being asked to contribute include Spain, Norway, Ireland, Kenya, Japan, Denmark, and Australia.
Global Citizen co-founder Hugh Evans specifically called on France to support education initiatives, questioning French President Macron's commitment when faced with tangible funding opportunities. Evans noted that the United States is not a target for funding requests this year. He described the U.S. as an "incredible laggard" on the global stage, citing the administration's significant cuts to its foreign aid budget and the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Despite acknowledging a global trend of shrinking foreign aid, Evans expressed optimism that the momentum will shift. He believes that political leaders who understand the nuanced application of power for positive change will shape the future.
This year's festival introduces a new admission option: fans can still enter a free ticket lottery by completing actions on the Global Citizen app, or they can gain automatic entry by making a $25 charitable donation. Funds raised from these donations will support New York's City Parks Foundation and organizations assisting those experiencing homelessness.
Evans hopes that artists like country music acts Lainey Wilson and Shaboozey will attract a new audience to the movement. He highlighted Wilson's background from a farming family and her expressed interest in the festival's support for the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Evans noted the significant country music presence, which he hasn't seen in "quite some time."