Goethe MobiArts 2026
Following the 2024 and 2025 editions, MobiArts 2026 continues this momentum by bringing together four artists from different regions, disciplines, and artistic traditions across the continent. Eleven African countries will host the program in 2026: Southern Africa, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal.
The tour is coordinated by the Goethe-Instituts in Abidjan and Yaoundé, in collaboration with the Goethe-Instituts and local partners in the various participating countries.
This year, four artists from different disciplines and regions have been selected to take part in this unique journey:
THE ARTISTS
Labdi
Music, Kenya
Labdi is a Kenyan singer, songwriter, and producer whose musical world draws on various traditions and contemporary sounds from East Africa. As a player of the orutu, a traditional Kenyan instrument, she creates music that brings together Taarab, Ohangla, Benga, electronic sounds, and contemporary musical influences. Through her music, Labdi explores the possibilities of bringing together cultural heritage, experimentation, and contemporary creation. Her work is rooted in an approach that is open to collaborations and exchanges with artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. For MobiArts 2026, Labdi will present her musical world in several countries across the continent and will collaborate with local musicians to create artistic encounters tailored to the different stages of the tour.
THE TOUR
02.10.2026 – Kenya
Nairobi, Goethe-Institut Auditorium
10.10.2026 – South Africa
Johannesburg, Native Rebels Restaurant, Kadebe St
14.10.2026 – South Africa
Johannesburg, The Weekly Touch UP
16.10.2026 – South Africa
Cape Town, The Athletic Club and Social, 35 Buitengracht Street
18.10.2026 – South Africa
Cape Town, The Commons
03.11.2026 – Nigeria
Lagos, Consulat Général d’Allemagne
04.11.2026 – Nigeria
Lagos, Goethe–Institut
29.11.2026 – Cameroon
Douala, DOMAF Festival
Lee Dia
Musique, Rwanda
Lee Dia is a Rwandan singer-songwriter and performer. Her musical style blends R&B, Afro-fusion, neo-soul, and jazz, with a deeply personal approach to songwriting and performance. A multilingual artist and storyteller, she explores themes such as healing, empowerment, memory, culture, and the female experience in her songs. Her work is rooted in a constant pursuit of authenticity and a desire to connect with her audience through personal and universal stories. The MobiArts 2026 tour will give Lee Dia the opportunity to share her art with diverse African audiences and to forge new artistic connections along the way.
THE TOUR
16.10.2026 – Angola
Luanda, Instituto Guimarães Rosa
23.10.2026 – Cameroon
Yaoundé, Goethe-Institut
03.11.2026 – Nigeria
Lagos, Consulat Général d’Allemagne
04.11.2026 – Nigeria
Lagos, Goethe–Institut
14.11.2026 – Rwanda
Kigali, Goethe-Institut
Tommy WÁ
Musique, Nigeria/Ghana
Born in Nigeria and based in Ghana, Tommy WÁ is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and visual storyteller. His musical style lies at the intersection of Afro-folk, indie, and retro soul, with lyrics that explore personal stories, human experiences, and realities of contemporary life.
Through his music and visual work, Tommy WÁ has developed a personal aesthetic that combines storytelling, melody, and observations of everyday life. His body of work includes, notably, the Roadman & Folks project and the track “Somewhere Only We Go,” which demonstrate his approach to music as a space for storytelling and expression. For MobiArts 2026, Tommy WÁ will set out to engage with diverse audiences and artistic scenes across the continent, from East Africa to West Africa.
THE TOUR
25.09.2026 – Rwanda
Kigali, Goethe-Institut
02.10.2026 – Kenya
Nairobi,
16.10.2026 – Burkina Faso
Ouagadougou, La Baguette du Faso
03.12.2026 – Ghana
Accra, Goethe-Institut
Christian Romain Kossa
Contemporary dance, Côte d’Ivoire
Christian Romain Kossa is an Ivorian dancer, choreographer, and performer. Trained primarily at the Institut National Supérieur des Arts et de l’Action Culturelle (INSAAC), he has developed an artistic practice that combines movement, physical exploration, and storytelling. His work explores issues related to migration, memory, displacement, vulnerability, and resilience. In his piece PUZZLE(D), the body becomes a space for exploration and reflection on individual and collective experiences related to displacement and identity. Through MobiArts 2026, Christian Romain Kossa will continue this exploration by presenting his work in various artistic contexts across the continent and engaging in dialogue with local dance scenes.
THE TOUR
29.09.2026 – Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kinshasa, Hotel New Malebo
16.10.2026 – Senegal
Dakar, Goethe–Institut
04.11.2026 – Nigeria
Lagos, Goethe–Institute
25.11.2026 – Côte d’Ivoire
Abidjan, AfrikUrbanArt
