Bridges for Music to launch Ubuntu stage at EDC Las Vegas

Titled UBUNTU by Bridges for Music, the stage will spotlight Africa’s leading musical talents and genres, including Afro-house, amapiano, and Afrobeats, at the United States’ largest dance music festival.

Drawing inspiration from Ubuntu, an African philosophy centred on interconnectedness and shared humanity, the initiative seeks to promote cross-cultural collaboration and community through music. The three-day showcase will feature performances by high-profile artists such as South Africa’s DJ Lag, Da Capo and Kasango, alongside eSwatini’s Uncle Waffles, Nigerian producer Sarz and Zambian talent Kilimanjaro. The line-up will also include artists from across the African diaspora, underlining the global reach of Africa’s evolving soundscape.

“This partnership between EDC and Bridges for Music is about more than music — it’s about impact and community,” Bridges for Music founder Valentino Barrioseta, said. “The ripple effects will be felt far beyond Las Vegas, at a grassroots level.”

Over the past decade, Bridges for Music has empowered youth in under-resourced communities through the Bridges Academy in Langa, where students receive training in music, entrepreneurship, digital literacy and mindfulness. The UBUNTU stage, the organisers said, represents an extension of this mission, promoting African excellence on the world stage while inspiring future generations of creatives and changemakers.

The UBUNTU stage, designed in the shape of a traditional kraal, will incorporate visual art and cultural elements from African communities, creating a vibrant, immersive experience. Curated entirely by Bridges for Music, the space will reflect the energy of Africa through sound, light and rhythm. This collaboration with Insomniac, the producers of EDC, signals a long-term commitment to fostering meaningful cultural exchange between Africa and the United States.