Afro Nation is gearing up for a massive celebration as it marks its fifth anniversary in 2025, with two African music powerhouses—Tems and Burna Boy—headlining the festival. Scheduled to take place from July 9 to July 11 in Portugal, this event promises to be a defining moment for global African music.
Joining them on stage is an eclectic mix of international talent, including rising star Ayra Starr, French rapper Franglish, UK-based Gabzy, French-Congolese artist Tiakola, and Congolese sensation Inoss’B. The Piano People stage will also feature amapiano heavyweights like Scorpion Kings, DBN Gogo, and Vigro Deep, ensuring a diverse and dynamic soundscape for festivalgoers.
Burna Boy’s return to Afro Nation is a full-circle moment. As one of the original performers when the festival launched in 2019, the “African Giant” has since ascended to global superstardom. Over the past year, he’s headlined major festivals, performed on Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage, and made history with a No. 1 album in the UK. Burna Boy’s magnetic stage presence and genre-defying sound make him a perfect fit for this milestone celebration.
Tems, meanwhile, will be making her highly anticipated Afro Nation debut. The Nigerian singer-songwriter’s meteoric rise from the alté scene to international stardom has been awe-inspiring. Fresh off her critically acclaimed album Born in the Wild, which features collaborations with Asake and J. Cole, Tems is a force pushing Afrobeats further into the global mainstream. Her Grammy win and chart-topping success with hits like “Essence” have cemented her place as a trailblazer for African women in music.
Afro Nation itself has grown from a festival into a global cultural movement. What started on the beaches of Portimão in 2019 has evolved into a platform that amplifies the voices of African artists worldwide. With past headliners like Wizkid, Davido, and Megan Thee Stallion, the festival has been instrumental in bridging African music with the global stage.
The Piano People stage, dedicated to amapiano—the South African house music genre taking over dancefloors—will also make its return. Fans can expect the lineup to include more genre-defining artists and news of additional performances as the countdown to the festival begins.
Tickets for Afro Nation 2025 go on pre-sale starting October 2, with general sales following on October 3. As the biggest Afrobeats festival in the world, Afro Nation’s fifth edition promises to be an unforgettable celebration of African music and culture, featuring two of its brightest stars. Don’t miss out!
