At a Glance
- Ye headlines a one-night Johannesburg stadium concert, his only South African appearance in 2025.
- The Ellis Park show highlights South Africa’s growing global live-music industry and cultural presence.
- Promoters call the concert a faith-driven cultural milestone for South Africa’s entertainment sector.
Grammy-winning rapper and producer Kanye West, now known as Ye, will headline a one-night concert at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on Dec. 13, 2025.
The show, confirmed by Ye on social media, will be his only South African appearance this year. It is being staged by Monyake Group, a Johannesburg-based live-entertainment promoter and project integrator, billing the event as both a cultural milestone and a spiritual gathering.
Ellis Park to host Ye’s South African stop
The Johannesburg concert will take place at Ellis Park, a 60,000-seat stadium best known for rugby and large-scale music events. Organizers expect the night to draw tens of thousands of fans, with local artists joining Ye on the bill.
Samuel Monyake, managing director of Monyake Group, said the booking reflects his company’s push to place South Africa on the touring map for global superstars. “Our goal is to use this event to consistently attract major international acts and showcase African creativity to the world,” he told local reporters.
Faith as a central theme
Monyake said Ye’s embrace of Christian themes helped secure the deal. “Ye’s commitment to faith and his bold way of sharing it resonate deeply with our Christ-centered culture,” he said. “This concert isn’t just about music. It’s about meaning.”
Promoters are positioning the show as more than entertainment — calling it a bid to inject new energy into South Africa’s live-events industry and prove that the country can deliver stadium-scale productions on par with Europe and the United States.
Ye’s evolving career
Ye first gained recognition in the early 2000s producing for Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and others before releasing his own debut, The College Dropout (2004). His catalog includes 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), Yeezus (2013), and The Life of Pablo (2016).
In 2019, his gospel-inspired Jesus Is King won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, marking a sharp turn in his career. More recent work includes Donda and Vultures 1, a collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign. With 160 million records sold and 24 Grammys, Ye is among hip-hop’s most decorated artists, ranking 12th on the all-time Grammy winners list.
Opportunity and risk for South Africa
For South Africa, hosting Ye at Ellis Park underscores the rising ambitions of its live-music sector. A successful show could encourage more international performers to make Johannesburg and Cape Town regular stops on world tours.
But the event carries risks. Ye’s controversies and business disputes in recent years have made some promoters cautious. At home, questions remain about whether Monyake Group can manage the demands of a show this size, including ticketing, security and logistics.
A defining moment for the industry
The December concert will test whether South Africa can stage a flawless event with one of music’s most influential — and polarizing — figures. Success could elevate Johannesburg’s standing as a destination for world-class entertainment.
For Monyake Group, it is a chance to prove local promoters can compete at international scale. For fans, it promises a rare and unforgettable night with Ye at Ellis Park.
