One of the biggest and most influential music festivals in the world, the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, is currently underway, with fans from across the globe flocking to the California desert for a celebration of music, culture, and unforgettable performances, including a powerful splash from African stars.
This year, Nigerian music heavyweights Davido, Wizkid, and Tems delivered standout performances across the festival’s two weekends.
Davido made his highly anticipated Coachella debut during the first weekend. Dressed in a sleek tracksuit, the Afrobeats star opened his electrifying set with a string of hits, including Skelewu, Aye, Dami Duro, Feel, and High featuring Adekunle Gold.
Beyond Davido, several Nigerian superstars have graced the Coachella stage over the years. Eelive rounded up Nigerians who’ve performed at Coachella before.
Seun Kuti
Seun Kuti, the son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, became the first Nigerian act to perform at Coachella when he debuted in 2012 alongside Egypt 80. He returned again in 2025 with Egypt 80, reaffirming his status as a global ambassador of Afrobeat.
Fireboy DML
In 2024, Fireboy DML made a surprise appearance during Spinall’s set, performing a reimagined version of their hit Sere. He also joined Jon Batiste on stage for the live debut of their collaboration, ‘Drink Water’.
CKay
In 2022, CKay performed his global smash Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah) during Pink Sweat$’s set, with the American R&B singer backing him on drums.
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Mr Eazi
Mr Eazi helped pave the way for more Afrobeats artists at Coachella when he performed in 2019, marking one of the genre’s early breakthrough moments at the festival.
Burna Boy
Burna Boy first performed at Coachella in 2019. After noticing his name listed in smaller print on the lineup poster, he publicly expressed his frustration, which inspired him to emphasise his wish to be recognised globally.
He returned in 2023 to the main stage with a vibrant, birthday-themed set inspired by his 2022 album Love, Damini, delivering one of the festival’s most memorable performances.
Tems
Tems first performed at Coachella in 2024 at the Mojave Tent, where she brought out Wizkid and Justin Bieber for their Hot 100 top-10 hit “Essence”.
She also debuted her single Love Me JeJe ahead of her debut album Born in the Wild. The song later reached the top 40 on Rhythmic Airplay and won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance.
She returned in 2026, however, this time as a surprise collaboration with global pop star Justin Bieber and Wizkid to perform the popular “Essence” remix during Bieber’s headlining set.
Rema
In contrast, Rema’s 2025 Coachella appearance drew mixed reactions. According to reports by The Independent, the 22-year-old arrived approximately 30 minutes late for his scheduled 45-minute Mojave stage set, leaving some fans disappointed. While reactions were divided, the moment sparked widespread conversation online.
