Tyla Leads the African Wave at Coachella 2025
With Coachella kicking off today, Tyla and fellow African artists Amaarae, Rema, and others transform the desert into a showcase of the continent's musical diversity.
Tyla has made it clear: she represents Amapiano, a genre as distinct and diverse as African music itself.
Photo courtesy of Sony Music.
Tyla is performing at Coachella, which kicks off today. The South African wave maker, known for her enthralling performances and genre-defining sound, takes the stage alongside Rema, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Amaarae, Shaboozey, Amémé, and Desiree. As one of the most highly anticipated acts of the weekend, fans are eager to see her perform after she had to cancel her 2024 Coachella appearance due to a worsening injury — a setback that also led to her pulling out of her North American tour.
The excitement is building as Amaarae posted, "See you at Coachella, Ghana in the building this Sunday," on her Instagram, while Desiree shared an aerial view video from her flight tagged #DESICHELLA on her Instagram story. Adding to the buzz, Tyla recently shared a behind-the-scenes photo of herself in rehearsal mode — sitting on a platform in a teeshirt and sweatpants with a microphone in hand — hinting at the preparations underway for her desert debut.
mislabeling alongsideWater
In her acceptance speech, Tyla didn’t shy away from correcting the narrative and used the moment to stress the diversity of African music. “This is just so special but also bittersweet because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats. It’s a thing, and even though Afrobeats has run things and has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse.” She added, “I come from South Africa. I represent Amapiano.” It was a small but powerful moment, listening to her pledge her commitment to representing the genre authentically.
Tyla’s Coachella debut in 2025 is another chance to amplify that message. It’s a full-circle moment for her and for Amapiano, an opportunity to show the world the heart and soul of the genre, to take something born in South Africa and share it on one of the biggest stages in music. It’s also a reminder of music’s power as a cultural export that bridges worlds and tells stories. For Tyla, her fans, and Amapiano, this is just the beginning of something much bigger.
