Picture this: at 4 pm on 9th July 2025, the gates at Praia da Rocha (The Algarve, Portugal)
beach opened for the fifth time to welcome 35,000+ attendees from all over the world to
officially commence Afro Nation…
25-30 degree heat beating down on our skin, the aroma of j-rice/jerk chicken floating through the air and into our noses, sand firmly wedged in our toes, colourful flags draped around people’s necks and waists with pride (so you know without doubt where their homeland is), all against the backdrop of dreamy blue skies.
From the very beginning of the festival, it was very clear there was a specific mission – to let
the world know that Afro Nation is here to stay. And that is exactly what they achieved,
leaving no stone unturned to ensure a premium experience that creates memories for a
lifetime.
For any enthusiast of African culture at any level, Afro Nation has become a rite of
passage that one must attend to truly engage with the culture and the global community
(i.e. the diaspora, etc) that underpins it. This is my review of Afro Nation 2025, having been
invited to attend as Official Press, with thanks to Zeitgeist.
What is Afro Nation?
Afro Nation stands as the world’s largest celebration of African music and culture. Since
launching in 2019, Afro Nation has played a part in global stars like Wizkid reaching headline status
status on major mainstream festival line-ups around the world. This highly anticipated fifth
anniversary edition of the festival was headlined by Burna Boy, Davido and Tems, and took
place from 9th-11th July 2025.
Working in association with prominent brands such as Hennessy, Converse, Rolling Stone Africa, Spotify, BBC 1XTRA, and Visit Portugal, Afro Nation continues to evolve into a truly global entity, attracting the biggest brands, stakeholders, and greatest talents from all over the world.
Afro Nation describes itself as the heartbeat of Afrobeats, which meets the soul of a global
movement. It is more than a festival: it is homecoming. It is a movement rooted in Pan-African
Ideology and beautifully carried by the spirit of unity and love. It is a celebration of African
creativity. It is a statement to the world that Africa is redefining its perception globally, and
seeks to create a cohesive experience that unites the melting pot of African (and also
Caribbean cultures on a basis of collaboration and expression.
The Philosophy of Afro Nation
“Afro Nation: we are One Nation, One Africa!” – a poignant statement proudly (and
repeatedly) exclaimed by MCs and artists who graced the Lit and Piano People stages of the
festival at Praia Da Rocha – almost as if it
When I asked many attendees what Afro Nation meant to them, I kept hearing the
sentiments of it being a “safe space”. Afro Nation, over the years, has brilliantly curated its
community, which keeps people coming back. I find touches like “Rep your Flag Friday”
(where attendees are encouraged to bring the flag of their homeland) to be extremely
endearing, and helps the younger generation in particular, to take true pride in where they
are from.
Afro Nation is not just restricted to Africans/the diaspora to coverage, but is open to any lovers of music, art and culture – regardless of creed, colour, background, etc. Afro Nation, in my view, is the global meeting point of love, expression and African culture – the latter being its foundation to bring everything together. And it does so majestically. Everyone comes with high energy and open arms. Our joy as attendees filters into the local community in a very organic way – residents, taxi drivers and shopkeepers are very welcoming of us and express their excitement for when the Afro Nation crowds come yearly!
Afro Nation notably also held a first-of-its-kind panel session – the “TMG Brunch” – where
high-profile reps from the likes of Spotify, NBA Africa, Bloomberg, Sony and more were in
attendance. The event explored the power of the global African diaspora and delved deep
into the brilliant minds who are unlocking the continent in ways that transcend borders. This
shows how Afro Nation is committed to becoming a conduit that brings forces together to
work towards positive progression.
Smooth Sailing by the Sea
Robust infrastructure, an army of attentive staff and a clear plan of action are essential for a
festival of this scale to function on any level – and Afro Nation did just that. To ensure queues
were appropriately managed, there were multiple, well-organised points of entry, depending
on your accreditation: General Admission, VIP or Golden Circle. Security was tight and very
well organised, ensuring smooth exits from the festival every night and the prevention of any
issues on the beach.
Afro Nation is now cashless. Instead, and very conveniently, your wristband essentially acts
as an e-wallet. There is a barcode which you scan with your phone to top up (or you can go to
specific stands for in-person assistance).
This system I observed was highly effective: gone are the days of running around looking for an ATM or place to get cash quickly, taking away from the fun and meaning you lose time to do what you want to do. When looking to spend your money, there were plenty of pop-ups at the festival – mainly food, drinks and merch. In the surrounding areas just beyond the festival grounds, there are wide options too.
While Chris Brown unfortunately announced close to festival start that he was unable to
attend, London Legend J Hus and other acts were very quickly subbed in to compensate.
Afro Nation communicated and executed the changes swiftly and smoothly, and this is to be
commended. Malachite and M
An Explosion of Expression
The main offering of the festival is the A-list line-up of superstar artists, i.e. Burna Boy,
Davido, Uncle Waffles, etc, who hit the stage to remind us why we love them. But the stages
are also open to emerging artists on the rise, a good example being Odeal, and also,
Caribbean artists such as Dexta Daps. This is a feature of the festival which I believe is really
important in bridging the gap between Africa and the Caribbean.
From the high-energy MCs such as Shopsy Doo, to crowd controllers such as DJ AG, to the
Incredible dance troupe led by Ezinne, transitions between artist performances were both
entertaining and seamless, making for a non-stop journey of enjoyment every day.
From Francophone to Afroswing to Amapiano, the remarkable breadth and depth of African
music is showcased, meaning there is something for everyone. This is facilitated in part by
the fact that there the fact there are now two stages – the Lit and Piano People Stages. Both
stages brought incredibly different energy and vibes, enabling audiences to catch the
differences between the sub-genres and the feelings they invoke. After the festival events
would finish around 12:30 am, the energy and crowds would spill onto the neighbouring
strip, and throughout the night, a giant street party would take place!
The festival attendees play their part in this explosion too – everyone is dressed to impress,
looking their best and making Afro Nation a true spectacle for all to see! Their energy of
excitement and joy allows truly infectious vibes to consume Praia Da Rocha in a feel good
fest of happiness!
Following artist Gabzy’s smooth and serenading performance on the Lit Stage, I assisted
Hannah Ajala (BBC) is interviewing with him – keep your eyes out for when that
goes live!
Final Thoughts
I truly believe that Afro Nation has, and will continue to etch its name and legacy in the
sands of time, for all they have achieved in showcasing African culture to the world in the
best way possible. Afro Nation have triumphantly displayed resilience, leadership and
excellence in the face of challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and continue to go from
strength to strength.
What is also extremely clear is despite being in year 5, this is only the beginning of their
journey towards worldwide expansion. Beyond that, they are creating a blueprint for the
next generation to create their own self-sustaining global ecosystems. Those who closely
study what is forming before us will surely be on a path to greatness.
It is my honest opinion that everyone at least once in their life should dance carefree on a
beach with strangers at a festival to the music they love throughout the night – and Afro
Nation will enable you to do just that. Sun, smiles, and sensational vibrations all around!
Norman Busigu is a British-Ugandan, critically acclaimed, award-winning (independent)
Broadcaster-Filmmaker-model, and the founder of the media platform Postcards
Festival Review by Norman Busigu.
