Afrobeats Intelligence Returns for Season 5 This February

The fifth season of Afrobeats Intelligence, the podcast created by award-winning Nigerian journalist Joey Akan, returns at the end of this month. The fifth season premieres on February 27, 2026, ushering in a new slate of conversations about the ideas, ambitions, and business decisions shaping Afrobeats today.

Season five of Afrobeats Intelligence is presented by OkayAfrica in partnership with Maison Martell, extending our shared commitment to champion the voices driving African music’s global influence. Through sharp reporting and cultural commentary, we continue to document the movement of African pop culture across borders while creating space for the architects behind the sound to tell their stories in full.

This season features new interviews and guest appearances from some of Afrobeats’ most visible and emerging figures. The lineup includes Shallipopi, Wale, Sarz, Ladipoe, Kcee, Joshua Baraka, BOJ, Aniko, Dr. Sid, Jyde Ajala, Tec of Show Dem Camp, Winny, Magixx, and Tobi Mohammed, also known as Alhaji Popping. Each episode offers candid reflections on artistry, strategy, and the realities of navigating a genre that now commands global charts and touring circuits.

“In the last season of Afrobeats Intelligence, we sat with some of Africa’s most important voices, artists, culture builders, and executives, breaking down how Afrobeats really works,” Akan says.

 “This new season goes deeper. Bigger conversations, sharper stories, and more access to the people who are building the future and sound of African music on a global scale.”

With over a million downloads, Afrobeats Intelligence stands as Africa’s top-rated music podcast. Past guests have included Bella Shmurda, Tiwa Savage, Timaya, Ayra Starr, Mr Eazi, and Don Jazzy. Across seasons, the show has unpacked the mechanics behind hit records, label politics, and international expansion, giving listeners insight into how Afrobeats continues to evolve.

Our partnership with Maison Martell also connects the podcast to the historic cognac house’s broader cultural initiatives. Founded in 1715 by Jean Martell, the House has built a legacy rooted in craft and audacity, values that align with the spirit of today’s African creatives.

As Afrobeats continues to reshape global pop, season five of Afrobeats Intelligence centers the people building the future of the sound and the systems sustaining its rise.