“Respect the Roots and Culture”: Ozuna, Goyo & Venesti Celebrate Afrobeats’ Global Rise at Billboard Latin Music Week 2025

At this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week, the global influence of Afrobeats took center stage as artists from across the Latin world gathered to celebrate the genre’s impact on modern music. During the panel “Afrobeats: The New Global Rhythm of Latin Music” — presented by Walmart at the Fillmore Miami Beach — stars Ozuna, Goyo, Venesti, Kapo, and Humberto “Humby” Viana discussed the cultural crossover and the responsibility that comes with it.

Moderated by Billboard’s Jessica Roiz, the conversation explored how Afrobeats has become a bridge between Africa and Latin America, shaping a new generation of sound and style.

“This movement is so big, and it has brought so many opportunities for Latin artists who sing Afrobeats but are not from Nigeria,” said Colombian artist Goyo, whose debut solo album Pantera incorporates African rhythms. “It’s important to respect the roots and culture. Africa is at the center of this music, and we must continue to give it importance through a genre that unites us all.”

Ozuna, one of Latin music’s biggest crossover stars, reflected on how Afrobeats helped him evolve creatively.

“I didn’t know much about the rhythm at first, but I wanted to learn. I was deep into reggaetón, and Afrobeats opened doors for me,” he said. “The key is unity and collaboration — we did that with reggaetón, and it worked. Now it’s time for Afrobeats to grow through the same spirit of teamwork and support for new artists.”

Emerging Colombian talents Venesti and Kapo shared how Afrobeats shaped their breakout hits. Venesti’s “Umaye” — recorded on a $50 microphone — became his first Billboard No. 1.

“It was a turning point,” Venesti said. “People kept telling me what I ‘should’ do, but when my label told me to be myself, I made ‘Umaye.’ It’s a poem turned into a song.”

Kapo echoed that sentiment, crediting his hit “Ohnana” for connecting him to audiences around the world.

“We are born with that feeling — it’s something I can’t explain,” he said. “We created ‘Ohnana’ and it connected with people everywhere. It wasn’t my beginning, but it changed everything.”

Now in its 30th year, Billboard Latin Music Week remains the world’s largest gathering of Latin artists and industry executives, featuring panels, performances, and networking sessions that shape the future of the genre.