In San Basilio de Palenque, a historic Afro-Colombian village famed as the cradle of cumbia music, echoes of Africa are finding fresh resonance through a new wave of Afrobeats-inspired Latin sound.
The rhythmic exchange between Africa and Latin America, centuries in the making, is now being reimagined through digital platforms, streaming culture, and global collaborations.
What began as the heartbeat of Nigerian street pop has evolved into a cross-continental language, with Colombia emerging as one of Afrobeats’ most passionate new homes.
A New Sonic Bridge Between Lagos and Latin America
Artists like Beéle and Kapo are at the forefront of a growing Latin Afrobeats fusion, blending Nigerian rhythms with local genres such as champeta and salsa.
The result is a fresh, hybrid sound rooted in shared African ancestry and driven by a modern digital audience hungry for cultural connection.
For Beéle, who credits Davido’s “Aye” as his first introduction to Afrobeats at age 12, the influence runs deep. His debut album BORONDO features Nigerian producers, bridging sounds between Lagos and Barranquilla.
Kapo’s chart-topping singles “Ohnana” and “Uwaie” on the Billboard Global 200 showcase this synergy, while his collaboration with Nigerian artist Fido on the “Awolowo” remix cements his international crossover.
Streaming Fuels a Cross-Atlantic Explosion
The numbers tell the story of Afrobeats’ growing footprint across Latin America. Listenership jumped 180% year on year in 2025, with Argentina and Mexico recording a 400% surge, and Brazil witnessing a 500% growth since 2020. In Colombia, fans streamed over 25 million hours of Afrobeats in 2025 alone.
The rise of playlists like Afro Ritmo, whose listenership grew by 180% this year, has turned streaming platforms into virtual dancefloors connecting African and Latin audiences.
The subgenre Latin Afrobeats has grown by an astonishing 6,000% since 2020, evidence of a musical movement powered by both technology and ancestral memory.
Global Collaborations Redefining the Sound
High-profile crossovers are amplifying this trend. Rauw Alejandro, Ayra Starr, and Rvssian’s hit “Santana” surpassed 300 million Spotify streams, earning Ayra Starr her first Latin Diamond Certification. Omah Lay joined Ozuna for a remix of “Soso”, while Mr Eazi and J Balvin’s collaborations “Lento” and the Latin Grammy-winning “Arcoíris” have become templates for Afro-Latin fusion.
Even Burna Boy’s “Rollercoaster” with J Balvin continues to chart across both continents.
