Ayra Starr, Robin Roberts, Kawhi Leonard Bring the Community Together at Giants of Africa Festival in Rwanda

NEED TO KNOW

• Ayra Starr, Robin Roberts and Kawhi Leonard teamed up to make Giants of Africa a successful event

• The festival, which is held in Rwanda, brings together youth from 20 African countries to promote community, culture and education

• “Speaking with the youth players there is an experience I will never forget,” Roberts said of her “incredible” experience

The 2025 Giants of Africa Festival in Rwanda was a sold-out event following its inaugural celebration in 2023 thanks to some major star power stepping up to bring the community together.

From July 26 to Aug. 2, Ayra Starr, Robin Roberts and Kawhi Leonard were among the famous faces who united 320 boys and girls from 20 African countries to promote themes of community, culture, basketball, education and entertainment for the annual event.

“When we come together as one continent and celebrate our incredible diversity, Africans can dream big,” Giants of Africa co-founder Masai Ujiri said in a statement.

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Ujiri continued, “Through competing in the game we love, dancing to our favourite music, and by showing off our incredible fashion, I am proud to say that 320 giants of Africa have created a community of future leaders. Thank you to His Excellency, President Paul Kagame, and the beautiful people of Rwanda for hosting us once again and sharing our vision of a borderless Africa.”

During the festival, 34-year-old Leonard, a two-time NBA champion currently with the Los Angeles Clippers, partnered with Giants of Africa to unveil three new courts at St. Ignatius School in Kigali.

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The Built Within initiative will make way for 100 courts to be constructed as part of a multi-year investment.

In addition to “Rush” singer Ayra Starr, 23, there were also performances by African superstars Kizz Daniel, Uncle Waffles, Timaya, The Ben, DJ Senshi and more.

The Grammy-nominated songstress was born in Benin and raised between Cotonou and Lagos.

“What an incredible week in Rwanda! Being a part of the @giantsofafrica festival and speaking with the youth players there is an experience I will never forget,” Roberts, 64, captioned an Aug. 4 Instagram post.

The Good Morning America co-anchor shared photos from her trip, which included a couple of cameos from Ghanaian actor and comedian Michael Blackson.

Other images from her trip showed her participating in Umuganda Day, a national day in Rwanda reserved for acts of community service.

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