Davido and French Montana Set the Tone at AFCON Kickoff, Where Music, Sport, and Global Culture Collide
- BFW Staff
- Dec 23, 2025
- 2 min read
Davido and French Montana headlined AFCON 2025's opening ceremony in Morocco, showcasing how African music, sports, and global culture converge on the world stage.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations opened with more than football—it opened with a cultural statement. Nigerian global superstar Davido and Moroccan-American rapper French Montana headlined the opening ceremony at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, alongside producer RedOne, underscoring AFCON's evolution into a pan-African cultural showcase that extends far beyond the pitch.
The performance, titled "Le Show," unfolded as one of the most visually striking opening moments in AFCON history, combining music, light, movement, and symbolism in a carefully choreographed display aimed at a global television audience. Even steady rainfall couldn't dampen the spectacle as Davido serenaded the crowd moments before Morocco's tournament opener against Comoros.
French Montana, born in Morocco and raised in the United States, brought global hip hop influence and diaspora identity to the opening night, highlighting how African identity now moves fluidly across continents, genres, and audiences.
For the film and entertainment industry, moments like this matter. AFCON's opening ceremony functions as a live, global broadcast platform watched by millions across television and streaming, one where music, fashion, storytelling, and national identity intersect at scale. It's the same ecosystem Black Film Wire tracks closely: where African-led narratives are no longer niche, but central to how the continent presents itself to the world.
The tradition of music at AFCON dates back decades, evolving from intimate local performances to global spectacles. Earlier ceremonies featured acts like Kojo Antwi and Samini in 2008, while the 2010 Angola edition brought Akon and Wyclef Jean. By 2022's Cameroon tournament, the lineup was deliberately pan-African with Youssou N'Dour, Fally Ipupa, and Diamond Platnumz.
AFCON 2025 runs until January 18, featuring 24 national teams competing across six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Fez, and Agadir. This marks Morocco's first time hosting the finals since 1988.
As AFCON continues, the message is clear: Africa's biggest moments, whether in sports, music, or film, are increasingly interconnected, co-produced, and globally staged. And the opening night, led by Davido and French Montana, set that tone unmistakably.
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