From Johannesburg to Los Angeles, DJ Shimza (real name Kholofelo Ashley Raphala) is proudly flying South Africa’s music flag high.
The acclaimed producer and Kunye pioneer recently performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival for the first time, marking a major milestone in his global career.
Shimza delivered a back-to-back set with world-renowned Dutch DJ Afrojack (real name Nick van de Wall) at the Quasar Stage during Coachella 2026.
Held annually at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, the festival is known for its desert setting, diverse music line-up and large-scale art installations, attracting over 100,000 attendees daily.
Following his performance, Shimza took to Instagram to express gratitude for the opportunity.
“🙏🏾❤️ beyond grateful @afrojack @coachella,” he wrote.
“Sometimes we think our stories need to be something we’ve seen happen, trust me, it’s not like that, every story has its own story, meaning and purpose 🙏🏾,” he added.
Fans and fellow celebrities quickly filled his comments section with praise.
Lady Du said: “We are proud of you as a country.”
Tbo Touch commented: “Come on Bro🔥🔥🔥🔥.”
Nandi Madida added: “To the top! 👏.”
While @kavirmagan wrote: “Super proud of you brother Ashley, from Tembisa to Coachella and the World. 2026 is yours. Day 1 ❤️🙌.”
This was Shimza’s first time attending Coachella, and he stood out as the only South African artist on the 2026 line-up.
Ahead of the performance, Afrojack hosted him for two days, where they collaborated in studio sessions to prepare for the set.
Shimza travelled with Victor and Junior RSA as part of his team for the event.
Other African artists who performed at Coachella 2026 include Davido, Wizkid, Tems, Adekunle Gold and ECool.
Tickets for the festival sold out within a week, with general access ranging from $549 to $649 (roughly R9000 to R10, 700) and VIP tickets priced between $1,199 and $1,399 (roughly R20 000 to R23 000).
