Among them, African artists consistently stand out, bringing unique sounds that combine traditional rhythms with contemporary genres, thus enriching the festival experience.
From legendary Afrobeat stars to groundbreaking DJs, these artists not only entertained but also educated audiences with their culturally rich performances that resonated far beyond the festival grounds.
History and Impact of African Performers at Coachella
In recent years, the festival has incorporated major African artists into its line-up. The festival headliners have also brought some of their African partners on stage for their performances.
Coachella 2024 – Tems, Wizkid, DJ Spinall and The Joy
On the first weekend of Coachella 2024, headliner Doja Cat revealed South African acapella group The Joy for her performance. The historical performance was widely acclaimed and seen as a nod to her South African heritage.
That same weekend, Nigerian artist Tems performed ‘Substance’ alongside Wizkid and Justin Bieber at her Coachella debut.
Nigerian DJ and record producer, Spinall also graced both weekends of the Coachella festival as the first Afrobeat DJ to do so. He brought out Fireboy DML and Teni for the historic performance.
2023 – Burna Boy from Nigeria and Uncle Waffles from South Africa
Burna Boy debuted on the Coachella stage in 2019 and returned to the festival four years later in 2023.
A memorable controversy surrounding his performance in 2019 was a post he made on Instagram stating: “Coachella, I appreciate you. But I don’t appreciate the way my name is written so small on your account. I’m an AFRICAN GIANT and I won’t limit myself to what that tiny writing means. Please fix them quickly.”
South African DJ Uncle Waffles also made history in 2023 as the first DJ Amapiano to play at Coachella.
2022 – Black Coffee and Sampa The Great
South Africa’s Grammy Award-winning DJ Black Coffee is a regular at Coachella, having debuted at the festival in 2016 and then appeared in 2018 and 2022.
Black Coffee is famous for deep house music that often incorporates African sounds.
That same year, Zambian-Australian rapper Sampa The Great made her Coachella debut. Sampa The Great brings a unique blend of hip-hop with a touch of soul and jazz, enriched by her African heritage.
Mr. Eazi at Coachella 2019
Acclaimed for mixing cultural elements from Nigeria and Ghana with global pop music, Mr. Eazi also performed to well-received Coachella audiences in 2019.
Along with Burna Boy, their participation at Coachella 2019 not only brought great music but also highlighted the growing influence of African sounds on global music festivals.
2018 – Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 and South Africa Sjava
Representing Nigeria, Seun Kuti, along with his father Fela Kuti’s band, Egypt 80, delivered powerful performances rooted in Afrobeat. They were also booked for the 2020 edition before it was canceled due to the pandemic.
Sjava, known for his unique blend of Afro-soul and hip-hop, also brought a South African flavor to the festival.
Wizkid was one of the prominent acts to perform at Coachella 2018, although he was unable to perform due to the band’s visa issues.
Other African artists who have performed at Coachella
Other musicians who have performed at Coachella include:
- Nigerian artist Mdou Moctar in 2024
- Dance/Electronic DJ Kyle Watson (South Africa) in 2023
- Belgian-Rwanda maker Stromae in 2022
- DJ AMÉMÉ from Benin in 2022
- Tinariwen from Mali in 2009