Africa’s next streaming revolution isn’t coming from Silicon Valley it’s coming from Lagos. Hafrikplay, a fast-growing Nigerian music platform, is raising a $5 million Series A to build what CEO Omobosola Karimat Alaka calls “Africa’s own music infrastructure.” The goal: to empower artists long before fame, with fair pay, visibility, and ownership built into the system.

Rethinking Streaming for Africa

Hafrikplay isn’t another DSP trying to copy Spotify. It’s a hybrid model a cross between a distribution hub, creator platform, and streaming service. Artists can upload directly, track analytics, receive payments through an in-app wallet, and even sell merch or tickets without middlemen.

Key Features That Redefine Independence:

• 100% artist-controlled earnings: Direct uploads and payouts—no 1RPM, no Empire, no middle cuts.
• Fairer pay rate: ₦0.10 (10 kobo) per stream (~$0.1042), far above the global average.
• Local pricing: ₦900 ($0.60) monthly for listeners, ₦500–₦1,000 ($0.35–$0.69) for Pro tiers.
• Ad-free streaming: Even free users experience uninterrupted playback.
• Telco integration: In-progress MTN Nigeria partnership will let users pay daily, weekly, or monthly via airtime or data deductions.
• Payment ecosystem: Vouchers via Kuda, Opay, and Wema Bank for seamless local and international support.

The $5 Million Expansion Plan

According to Condia, Hafrikplay’s $5M Series A is expected to close in Q1 2026. The funding will scale licensing, artist acquisition, and pan-African expansion. Licensing deals alone can cost up to $150,000 per month, so the raise will help Hafrikplay secure known tracks for retention while spotlighting emerging acts.

This fundraise also underlines a larger ambition to help Africa own its digital creative infrastructure. “We skipped the pre-seed route because we already had traction, users, and a working model,” says Alaka.

The company’s advisory board includes Olisa Adibua (Storm360 co-founder) and Chika Nwosu (PalmPay GM), adding strong industry and fintech expertise to its roadmap.

“Care Before the Fame”: The Heart of Hafrikplay

When Omobosola Alaka started as an artist, she often heard: “Your sound is too slow.” No one cared until success arrived. That moment inspired a new question— “How do we make people care before fame comes?”

Hafrikplay’s answer is simple but radical: reward artists early and build systems that scale empathy into economics.

“Hafrikplay was built to care before the rest of the industry does—to serve both artists and listeners, which other platforms fail to do.” — Omobosola Alaka

It’s a message resonating with emerging musicians across the continent—especially those tired of waiting for global platforms to notice them.

Breaking the “Afrobeats-Only” Box

Alaka’s vision goes beyond the dominance of Afrobeats. She emphasizes Africa’s pluralism Soukous, Kidandali, Afro Drill, Afro Fusion, and dozens more. Hafrikplay wants to avoid what she calls “the reggae trap,” where one globalized sound overshadowed regional creativity.