It’s Coachella weekend! Which means great music, some of the biggest stars in the world, and a few surprise appearances that will have the entire festival — and the internet — screaming. That was exactly the case when global pop sensation Justin Bieber took the stage for his headlining performance and surprised everyone by bringing out two of Africa’s biggest artists, Tems and Wizkid, for a stunning performance of “Essence.”

The Bieber Coachella Set

On Saturday night, Bieber headlined the festival’s 25th edition in Indio, California, delivering a career-spanning set that blurred his musical eras together, involved a lot of YouTube videos and defied industry expectations. But somewhere between the nostalgia plays, which included singing to a younger version of himself, and new material, the night shifted with two particular surprise appearances.

Tems first walked out to join Bieber for a performance of their collaboration “I Think You’re Special,” as the crowd roared. And just when it felt like the moment had peaked, Wizkid stepped out to join them, and together they performed their 2021 hit, “Essence (Remix),” sending both the crowd and the internet into a frenzy.

Bieber’s set leaned into unpredictability. Dressed down and moving between old hits and new material from SWAG and SWAG II, he delivered a performance that felt loose, internet-native and, at times, chaotic — even drawing some mixed reactions online. But the inclusion of Wizkid and Tems cut through it all, grounding the set and is already recognized as a highlight of Bieber’s performance.

This also marks the second time the trio has reunited to perform the song on the Coachella stage with the first time being in 2024.

A true reminder of how Afrobeats transforms any moment, whether a party or a festival, taking it all the way up.