Tems, John Legend Set For Obama Presidential Centre Opening Today
Nigerian Afrobeats star Tems will share the stage with music legends Stevie Wonder and John Legend at the official opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago today.
The Centre will function as a museum, library, educational hub, community space, conference facility, and headquarters of the Obama Foundation.
Former United States President Barack Obama announced the lineup in an Instagram reel styled as a casual chat, disclosing a star-studded roster for the historic event.
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Other performers include Bono & The Edge, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Common, Eddie Vedder, Jennifer Hudson, and Latin star Marc Anthony. Producer Marsai Martin and hip-hop group The Roots will also take part.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama called the opening “a deeply personal milestone” for her family and the South Side Chicago community.
In an Instagram post, Tems recalled her childhood around the site saying that, “So much of my existence as a child into high school was driving past this very location where really nothing was. It was a highway. It was a dangerous place. It was an unutilised park space.”
She added that “The opening of the Presidential Centre right here on the South Side of Chicago is truly a full-circle moment.
“I always wondered what was going on there. But to now be a part of this amazing centre. This is beyond a gift, she expressed.
Michelle Obama also said that, “The notion that kids like me will have a magnificent space full of history, and hope, and art, and leadership activity right in their backyard. “There is nothing more full circle like that.”
She therefore added that, “It means so much to Barack and me to open up the Obama Presidential Centre on the South Side of Chicago. This is where I grew up, where Barack got his start, and where we raised our girls. So having a place where kids from our community can see themselves, connect with each other, and channel their hope—there’s nothing more powerful than that.”
Meanwhile the event will celebrate the Obama administration’s legacy while showcasing the Centre’s focus on leadership development, civic engagement, and community empowerment.
By Abdulbaqi Jibreel Ajao
