Justin Bieber made a nostalgia-fuelled return to the major stage as Coachella’s much-anticipated headline act on Saturday night, bringing out Nigerian superstars Wizkid and Tems for a show-stopping performance of their global hit “Essence.”
The 32-year-old spent much of his set sitting in front of a laptop and singing to YouTube music videos of his older hits, including “Baby” and “Never Say Never,” delighting the crowd in an apparent tribute to the platform on which he was discovered. He also played some of the home videos that had brought him to the industry’s attention at age 12.
It marked the star’s biggest live show in four years, having cancelled his Justice world tour following health issues.
After a 90-minute performance that ranged from raw and intimate to nostalgia-soaked, Bieber invited Tems onto the stage. The Lagos-born singer, born Temilade Openiyi, first appeared for “I Think You’re Special,” a song that showcased the gentle authority she carries into every room. Then she stayed.
Wizkid joined them both for “Essence,” the track that originally introduced Tems to a global audience back in 2020. The full-circle weight of that moment was not lost on anyone watching.
The trio delivered an electrifying rendition of the song, thrilling fans with their chemistry and high energy. Social media exploded with clips and reactions, calling it a historic collaboration for Nigerian artists at Coachella.
Tems launched her career in 2018 with her debut single “Mr Rebel,” recording it after leaving a full-time job to pursue music. For two years, she worked in relative obscurity before Wizkid called. Their 2020 collaboration “Essence” became a slow-burning phenomenon, crossing from Lagos to London to Los Angeles, reaching the Billboard Hot 100, and earning a remix featuring Bieber.
Tems has since earned two Grammy Awards, became the first Nigerian artist to reach 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and collaborated with Drake and Beyoncé. Her debut album “If Orange Was a Colour” confirmed that her voice was not a feature act waiting for a solo career. It already had one.
