Tems headlined the AFROPUNK Brazil 2025 festival held in Salvador, Bahia, over the weekend of November 8 and 9. The two-day event drew thousands of festivalgoers from across Brazil and beyond, marking one of the year’s biggest celebrations of African and diasporic music.

She performed on the main stage on Sunday, November 9, closing out the festival lineup. Her set included fan favourites such as ‘Free Mind,’ and ‘Me & U,’ with a strong response from the crowd captured across multiple social media platforms. Videos from the event show her performing to a packed audience, with fans singing along throughout her set.

Tem: Instagram

Her appearance follows a year of steady global recognition. She previously earned Grammy and Oscar nominations and has continued to be a leading voice in contemporary African music. Her headline slot at AFROPUNK shows her position as one of the continent’s most internationally followed performers.

AFROPUNK Brazil 2025 took place at Parque de Exposições in Salvador, a city widely known for its deep Afro-Brazilian roots and cultural history. The festival brought together artists from more than 25 countries and attracted over 40 percent of attendees from outside Bahia. Other performers on the lineup included Rico Dalasam, Karol Conká, and Baco Exu do Blues, representing a blend of African and Brazilian influences.

Tems’ performance was one of the most talked-about moments from the festival. A short video showing her interacting with fans mid-performance circulated widely online, further boosting engagement around her AFROPUNK debut.

Her inclusion on the lineup continues AFROPUNK’s focus on spotlighting Black artists who are shaping music across continents.

In early November 2025, Wizkid became the first African artist to surpass 100 million Shazams, a milestone that highlights both his global appeal and the growing influence of Afrobeats. Shazam tracks when listeners identify a song, and reaching this figure shows how often people are actively seeking out his music.

Wizkid – Instagram

Wizkid’s catalogue has grown steadily over more than a decade, from Lagos studios to international playlists. Tracks like Essence, featuring Tems, helped expand his audience far beyond Nigeria. Unlike chart positions that reflect streams or sales, this milestone reflects discovery: people all over the world are stopping to find out what they are listening to.

The milestone demonstrates that Wizkid’s music is connecting with audiences in regions where Afrobeats was once less prominent. His 2024 album and various collaborations contributed to this growth. The frequent identification of his songs indicates they continue to be heard and discovered across continents, showing the consistency of his appeal.

Wizkid’s career has been marked by careful development. He has evolved his sound while keeping it rooted in Nigerian rhythms. Collaborations locally and internationally have strengthened his global presence, with tracks like Essence entering the Billboard Hot 100—the first Nigerian song to achieve that. This proves that Nigerian music can reach international audiences without losing its identity.

Wizkid – Instagram

For Nigerian readers, this achievement is significant not just for numbers but for representation. It sets a benchmark for other African artists aiming for global recognition. Each time a listener in Lagos, Abuja, or Port Harcourt uses Shazam on a Wizkid track, they become part of a worldwide audience map, showing that Nigerian music is now commanding attention on a global scale.

While 100 million Shazams is a remarkable achievement, it also challenges Wizkid to maintain momentum. Future releases will need to capture attention and continue generating discovery-driven responses. If he does, this milestone won’t just be a number; it will mark a sustained period of Nigerian music shaping the global stage.

The 2026 Grammy nominations have once again placed Africa at the heart of global music, celebrating a list that reflects both the continent’s diversity and its cultural vitality. In the Best African Music Performance category, some of the biggest names in Afrobeats and Amapiano stand side by side Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Tyla, and Eddy Kenzo.

Burna Boy: Instagram

Burna Boy’s “Love” continues his legacy as one of Africa’s most decorated global artists, combining soulfulness with rhythm in a way that’s become uniquely his.

Omah Lay & Davido: Instagram

Davido’s “With You” featuring Omah Lay mirrors the emotional soul of modern Afrobeats, a mixture of melody and storytelling that has shaped Nigeria’s musical identity.

Wizkid & Ayra Starr: Instagram

Ayra Starr, the youngest of the group, earns a nomination for “Gimme Dat” with Wizkid a collaboration that redefines female presence in Afrobeats with confidence and versatility.

Tyla: Instagram

Meanwhile, Tyla’s “Push 2 Start” continues her rapid ascent, bringing South African Amapiano to new heights with the same international appeal that made “Water” a worldwide hit.

Eddy Kenzo: Instagram

Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo rounds out the category with “Hope & Love,” a record that channels the spiritual rhythm and optimism often woven into African music.

The recognition of these artists’ success is a reflection of how African music has evolved into a global force. From Lagos to Johannesburg, the continent’s sound continues to shape playlists, stages, and cultural conversations worldwide.
As the world anticipates the Grammy stage, one thing is certain: Africa isn’t just part of the global music story it’s leading it.