This year, Afro Nation takes place from July 9 to 11 at Praia da Rocha in Portimão, drawing together global diaspora communities with some of the most exciting names right now. The festival is set to be a landmark event uniting artists and the growing community from across the world in a celebration of music, fashion, and food.
Nigerian singers Burna Boy and Tems will both be heading to the beach to attend the event that continues to elevate and showcase the essence of African culture on a global stage. The former returns to Afro Nation this summer for his fourth performance, after a year away spent collecting accolades and smashing records for African artists around the world.
No stranger to the history books herself and an equally pioneering voice for Afrobeats and the Nigerian Alté sound, Tems will be making her long-awaited debut as an Afro Nation Portugal headliner in 2025. She stands as the first female African artists to win a Grammy Award and top the Billboard Hot 100.
Another incredible addition to the LIT Stage is the Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter Amaarae, who is known for her bold creativity and her genre-blurring fusion of Afrobeats, R&B, and alternative pop.
Nine-time Grammy winner and soul icon Mary J. Blige will also share the spotlight with the headliner trio on the LIT Stage for a special sunset performance at Afro Nation. More names joining the party include Odeal, Naza, Franglish, Tiakola, June Freedom and Qing Madi, further embodying the festival’s spirit of cultural fusion.
Piano People, the world’s largest amapiano stage, will once again take over the beach to showcase all the electric sounds the people know and love. Its next headliner will be none other than the iconic Uncle Waffles, whose return solidifies both the rise of amapiano and Afro Nation’s pivotal role in promoting the genre.
Joining her this July are two of amapiano’s most celebrated vocalists: Young Stunna and Nkosazana Daughter, along with other icons such as DBN Congo, Vigro Deep, and Oskido. Together, they represent a full spread of contemporary African music and culture, on a scale unmatched by any other music festival.
This featival has set a new standard in live entertainment, with distinguished events across three continents, uniting fans from over 160 countries to celebrate the culture. As the momentous 5th year anniversary draws near, Afro Nation Portugal continues to champion the influence of African Music on a global stage.
A journalist that’s always eager to learn about new things. With a passion for travel, adventure and writing about this diverse world of ours.
“Wisdom begins in wonder” - Socrates
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Why is Algarve celebrating Africa every year?
Algarve is not part of Africa, never has been and never will be. Algarve is part of Europe and has a proud history and culture that we all cherish so much. So why celebrate Africa every summer? Or the “African Nation” as the organisers proclaim. I’m not asking this to demean Africa in any way, I would have asked the same question if Algarve had celebrated Eskimos or Inuits, or any other non-European group.
In fact, I get a little bit suspicious when all these African guests are flown in here to party every summer. Is there some kind of woke guilt trip we all have to abide by? The slave trade was not invented by Europeans, neither were Europeans any of the major slave traders or owners. In fact, it was Europeans who abolished slavery. Still today a lot of nations and cultures still use slaves. Africa is one of them. China another. The Arab muslim countries another.
As Europeans we have nothing to feel ashamed of. On the contrary, it was Europeans who brought civilisation to the world and many of those ships sailed from Algarve to spread European civilisation that brought enlightenment to the darkest corners of the world.
So Algarve should celebrate Algarve instead each summer. A feast that honors our forefathers and their heritage that has given us the liberties and freedoms here today. And of course the lovely food and wine of beautiful Algarve.
Sincerely, Fredrik Johansson, Lagos, Algarve
By Fredrik Johansson from Algarve on 09 Jul 2025, 12:33