Afrobeats Icon Tekno Charges Up Summer With “Powerbank”
Afrobeats royalty Tekno is back with the vibrant “Powerbank,” a playful love anthem out today from emPawa Africa and Cartel Music. The infectious single produced by Selebobo, the Nigerian hitmaker behind Yemi Alade’s “Johnny” and Tekno’s own “Rara,” is a fun, breezy reminder of why Tekno remains one of African music’s most crucial voices a decade after he broke through globally with his genre-defining hit “Pana.”
The energizing “Powerbank” is an Afropop love story told in the most Nigerian way—it’s at once fun, vivid, and deeply emotional. The song reimagines love not as a grand performance, but as something quieter and more powerful: a kind of recharging presence in your life. It’s inspired by the kind of love that feels like home: Not fireworks, but firewood, slow-burning, constant, steady. It’s about the unspoken language between two people, the feeling when silence is enough. When someone respects your energy, reflects your light, and fills your emotional tank without asking.
Tekno channels this energy through a romantic and playful lens, using everyday Nigerian slang and charm to tell a deeper story about emotional intimacy, connection, and soul-deep affection.
The cinematic and lighthearted video from director Kemz (Shallipopi, Blaqbonez) stars Nigerian actress and socialite Regina Daniels as Tekno’s on-screen love interest, bringing the track’s storyline to life with a touch of Nollywood glamour. From intimate moments to high-energy car chase scenes, the neon-lit visuals capture the energy of a love that recharges just like a power bank, while nodding to the classic look of vintage Hollywood action movies.
“Powerbank” is the latest single to emerge from the joint venture between Tekno’s Cartel Music label and emPawa Africa, the innovative independent music company founded by Mr Eazi, which the duo first announced in 2024. Fresh off the release of his latest single “Alhaji,” and with much more music on the horizon, Tekno is positioning 2025 as a defining year for his now decade-deep career. Known for hits like “Pana,” “Skeletun,” and “Wayo,” as well as collaborations with the likes of Beyoncé, Drake, and Kizz Daniel, Tekno remains one of Afrobeats’ most consistent and influential hitmakers, and “Powerbank” is evidence he’s only getting started. Check out more on Tekno here.