With the latest announcement, the festival strengthens its roots and maps of the African diaspora by presenting a groundbreaking collaboration between Sister Nancy, a living legend of Jamaican dancehall, and BaianaSystem, the Bahian group known for drawing massive Carnival crowds with their Navio Pirata and for touring Brazil’s major festivals and stages across four continents. Their shared performance will be an unprecedented moment, symbolizing the reunion of two creative forces shaped by the universal language of sound systems, dub, and Black cultural revolution.

Sister Nancy and BaianaSystem join a stellar lineup that already includes Jorja Smith, BK’, Péricles, Liniker, MC Luanna, Os Garotin, ÀTTØØXXÁ, Budah, Núbia featuring Muzenza, and DJs Boneka and Umiranda. Tickets for AFROPUNK Brasil 2025 are already available – [check here].

Curated by the IDW agency, responsible for producing AFROPUNK in Brazil, the show is more than just a performance: it’s a political statement, an aesthetic communion, and a bridge between generations, geographies, and traditions. Creating original collaborations is one of the festival’s core values. Previous editions have hosted historic moments such as BaianaSystem with Patche Di Rima and Noite e Dia in 2023.

Appearing in Bahia for the first time, Sister Nancy is a pioneering figure in reggae and the first woman to rise in Jamaican dancehall—a symbol of resistance in a male-dominated genre. Her track “Bam Bam”, widely sampled by artists such as Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Run-DMC, is seen as a transgenerational anthem and was named by Pitchfork as the greatest dancehall song of all time. In 2024, her legacy was spotlighted in the documentary “Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story”, featuring tributes by artists like Janelle Monáe, who cite her as a direct source of inspiration.

The collaboration with BaianaSystem not only honors Sister Nancy’s influence but also reconnects the band with its founding roots. Formed in Salvador in the late 2000s, BaianaSystem was born from the fusion of the Bahian guitar with the force of sound systems, in direct dialogue with reggae, dub, and Afro-blocos (Afro-Brazilian street bands). This intersection is a fundamental part of their sonic DNA, which they’ve transformed into a global reference through street culture, visual identity, and political performance.

For vocalist Russo Passapusso, the show with Sister Nancy is “a celebration of what shaped us and continues to inspire us. It’s about ancestry—but also about the future.” Guitarist Roberto Barreto, known for modernizing the Bahian guitar sound, adds: “Sister Nancy’s voice has always been with us—even before we were aware of it. This show is a return to the starting point—and a leap toward what’s still to come.”

In addition to the collaborative performance between Sister Nancy and BaianaSystem, the AFROPUNK Brasil 2025 lineup features Jorja Smith, BK’, Péricles, Liniker, ÀTTØØXXÁ, Budah, Núbia feat. Muzenza, MC Luanna, Os Garotin, DJ Boneka, and DJ Umiranda.

The fifth edition of AFROPUNK Brasil is presented with main sponsorship from Banco do Brasil, sponsorship from Heineken, and support from GOL Linhas Aéreas as the official airline.