Tyla to Perform at Coachella 2025: Amapiano Takes the World Stage
Tyla takes the infectious rhythms of her sound to America's most-watched music festival.
Tyla has made it clear: she represents Amapiano, a genre as distinct and diverse as African music itself.
Tyla isheaded to Coachella. The South African wave maker, known for her enthralling performances and genre-defining sound, has been announced alongside Rema, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Amaarae, Shaboozey, Amémé, and Desiree as part of the festival’s 2025 lineup. It’s thrilling news for her fans, especially after she had to cancel her 2024 Coachella performance due to a worsening injury — a setback that also led to her pulling out of her North American tour.
Now, Tyla is stepping onto the stage with even greater momentum. However, this news is more than just about Tyla performing at one of the biggest music festivals in the world. It’s also about what her presence on that stage means. Amapiano, the genre that pulses through her music, has made its way from the dance floors of South Africa to international festivals and playlists. Seeing Tyla at Coachella will be a moment of cultural pride and proof of how far Amapiano has come. But Tyla’s journey has also highlighted a recurring issue:mislabeling. Despite being an Amapiano artist, she’s often grouped under oralongside Afrobeats in international spaces. The clearest example is her win at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, where she took home the Best Afrobeats award for her viral hitWater.In heracceptance 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.
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