Beyoncé and Jay-Z Turned the Global Citizen Festival Into a Stunning Fashion Celebration of Mandela’s Legacy. When Beyoncé headlines a festival, you know things will be next level. After stints at Glastonbury, Made in America, and that unforgettable “Beychella” moment back in April, the queen is used to raising the fashion bar for performances. Case in point: Yesterday at the Global Citizen Festival, she and her husband Jay-Z brought their act to Johannesburg with fanfare and a slew of custom designer looks chosen by Beyoncé’s team of Zerina Ackers and Jenke Ahmed Tailly, plus Jay-Z’s longtime stylist June Ambrose.

The effort put into this special project may have something to do with the message behind Global Citizen. More than a mere music festival, this year’s event commemorates 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela and celebrates his lifetime of political and philanthropic work. In an open letter posted on her personal site and in the South African newspaper Sowetan, Beyoncé outlined how Mandela’s influence has shaped her life. The star recalled their meeting in 2004 at the AIDS Benefit Concert in Cape Town and how Mandela’s humility and capacity for forgiveness continues to inspire her. “You made it possible for so many people like me to reject impossibilities and understand our capabilities in making lasting change in the world,” she wrote, noting that her entire family holds the leader in high regard. Given the Carters’ respect for Mandela, it’s no wonder that they brought their A-game.

See some photos below: