Fantastic line-up of African artists at Coachella 2018
While most of the mainstream media is focused on the Destiny’s Child reunion happening on the main stage, for us the real story is just how much African representation there is at this year’s event. With 13 top artists from Africa on stage on 2018, it must have been some treat for the +125,000 music fans a day that turned up at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (50 miles inland from Los Angeles) at the Empire Polo Club. Don’t worry if you didn’t attend in person, we have some cool streaming links for you!
While the venue has held equestrian events since 1987, the launch of the Coachella Festival in 1999 really put this venue on the global map.
So who will be entertaining the crowds? Here are some of the biggest highlights:-
- The Weeknd hail from Ethiopia and offer soulful sounds with a wonderful African feel
- Another Ethiopian performer will be bringing her pulsing, provocative music to the main stage as Coachella welcomes Kelela
- Jidenna loves the Nigerian highlife sound and is a proud ambassador for African music
- French Montana from Morocco makes a welcome return, having been introduced to a global audience by DJ Khaled last year – and his videos have now clocked up to 666 million views each
- South Africans will be thrilled to know that DJ Black Coffee will be on hand to deliver his smooth blend of remixes that have clocked up millions of view on YouTube
- Wizkid will also have his chance to break the huge American market wide open and let the locals understand why stars like Drake want to work with him and why Wizkid’s hits have clocked up to 56 million views EACH on YouTube
We taking that African culture to coachella this year BTW and i’m bringing out everybody. ♂️
— Wizkid (@wizkidayo) February 27, 2018
What a fantastic show!
That said, we can’t publish this post without crediting Beyoncé’s best performance of all time. In a league of her own with her usual tight performances, and the stage show was unapologetically black on so many levels.
To all the “Why you gotta make it all about race” people. @Beyonce‘s crest is *literally* symbols of Black power & liberation.
A nubian queen
A black panther
A Black Power fist
A black beeAnd on top, a winged sun w/ the eye of Horus in the middle.
SHE TOLD Y’ALL #Beychella pic.twitter.com/NysJsyyE50
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) April 15, 2018
“Greatest star of her generation writes herself into history.” – The Guardian about Beyoncé’s Coachella performance.#Beychella pic.twitter.com/pijcD5wJd6
— Beyoncé News (@TheYonceNews) April 15, 2018
She opened the show singing the Black National Anthem then joined by a group of majorettes and a full marching band.
I swear if I watch this Beyoncé performance one more time I will die for good#Beychella #Coachella pic.twitter.com/tCVf9KzohC
— Beyonda (@tilltheboatgoes) April 15, 2018
She referenced black political and musical icons, black history, and her band play ZOMBIE by Fela Kuti!
Beyoncé paid homage to Fela Kuti during her coachella perfomance.
Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician and activist who launched Afro-beat, which then fused American blues, jazz and funk with traditional Yoruba music. #Beychella pic.twitter.com/39z4QD4ymq
— AFRICAN HISTORY (@africanarchives) April 15, 2018
A HBCU band homage, Malcolm X, BGLO theme, which shes added her own flavor to.
HBCU vibe whaddup doe. #BeyChella pic.twitter.com/4LH6MAVgVr
— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 15, 2018
If you were not able to attend in person, then we suggest you use YouTube’s live streaming technology to catch all the highlights from the comfort of your own living room/phone/bed. Turn the speakers up to MAX and enjoy…
https://youtu.be/9TUBf6l7FBg
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