Spotify has entered a partnership with Afro Nation Portugal as the festival’s official sponsor and exclusive streaming partner, deepening its ties to the Afrobeats genre.
The three-day event takes place this weekend in Portimão, Portugal. As part of the deal, Spotify will launch an Afro Nation hub featuring an official playlist and on-demand performance videos after the festival concludes.
“Afro Nation is more than a festival, it is a global expression of African music, fan culture and creative influence,” said Rifumo Mdaka, Spotify’s content marketing manager for sub-Saharan Africa.
Afrobeats push
The partnership extends Spotify’s growing focus on Afrobeats. Since last September, the company has introduced a Global Afrobeats playlist, a dedicated section on its news site, a three-week Greasy Tops Café pop-up in Lagos, and a Culture Club podcast centred on the scene.
Royalty payouts and streaming milestones
Spotify recently disclosed that it paid out more than N60bn (approximately $44.3m) in royalties to Nigerian artists in 2025, a 3.4% year-on-year increase. Currency shifts played a significant role: payouts rose more than 140% compared to 2023.
Afrobeats artists continue to set new records on the platform. Ayra Starr has surpassed 3 billion streams, and Wizkid has crossed 10 billion streams. Wizkid is among the Afro Nation Portugal headliners this weekend, alongside Burna Boy, Tyla and Asake.
Live music still leads revenue
A November 2025 report by investment firm Regalstone Capital, titled Basslines to Billions, found that live performances generate 65.7% of the Nigerian music industry’s revenues, while streaming accounts for 30.1%.
“Streaming adoption is expanding rapidly, buoyed by a young, digital-native population,” the report noted. “Global platforms are increasing investment in local operations, while international sync placements and brand deals are boosting global exposure and revenues.”
