How Afrobeats and Latin Sounds Shape a New Generation of Music

• How a Generation of Latin American and West African Artists Has Come to Speak the Same Language

San Basilio de Palenque, a village southeast of Cartagena, Colombia, is a historic hub of African cultural preservation and the birthplace of cumbia music.

Colombian artists like Beéle and Kapo are leading a new wave of Latin-Afrobeats fusion, drawing directly from Nigerian sounds and reinterpreting them through local styles like champeta and salsa.

These collaborations, whether organic or intentional, reflect a two-way creative dialogue between African and Latin artists, from underground hits to chart-topping tracks.

This phenomenon is backed by explosive growth in Afrobeats’ popularity across Latin America, fueled by shared heritage, streaming platforms, and a desire for cultural reconnection.

As global collaborations multiply between stars like Mr Eazi & J Balvin, and Ayra Starr & Rauw Alejandro, Afrobeats is no longer just an African export but a global language reshaping music across borders.

Afrobeats growth in Latin America:

• 180% listenership increase in 2025 (YoY)

• 400% growth in Argentina and Mexico since 2020

• 500% growth in Brazil since 2020

• 25 million hours of Afrobeats were streamed in Colombia in 2025 alone

Artist impact:

• Beéle:

  • Inspired by Davido’s “Aye” at age 12

  • First Billboard entry with “Loco” at age 16

  • Debut album BORONDO features Nigerian producers

• Kapo:

  • Breakout hits “Ohnana” and “Uwaie” (Billboard Global 200)

  • “Ohnana” hit #1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay

  • Collaborated with Nigerian artist Fido on “Awolowo” remix

Major collaborations:

• Rauw Alejandro x Ayra Starr x Rvssian – “Santana”

  • 300M+ Spotify streams

  • Earned Ayra Starr the first Latin Diamond Certification

• Omah Lay x Ozuna – “Soso” remix

• Mr Eazi x J Balvin – “Lento,” “Arcoíris” (Latin Grammy winner)

• J Balvin x Burna Boy – “Rollercoaster”

Streaming culture & genre fusion:

• Latin Afrobeats subgenre grew by 6,000% since 2020

• Playlist Afro-Ritmo listenership grew by 180% in 2025

• Internet and streaming services are credited for democratising discovery and cross-continental musical fusion.

Read more HERE.