BLACK COFFEE : FULL FLAVOUR ICON

South African DJ and producer Black Coffee is a fierce cheerleader for the sounds of his homeland. Just as Bob Marley became a global icon who popularised and established reggae on the world stage, Black Coffee has done the same for Afro-house. Since his emergence 20 years ago, Afro rhythms have gone from being a niche sub-genre to colouring chart-topping r&b, pop, hip-hop and dance styles all over the planet.

Born Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo in a township called Umlazi near Durban, Black Coffee had humble beginnings. Raised in relative poverty by his mother and grandmother in a rural area, his early exposure to music came through his uncle’s reggae collection. And though he spent time before school each morning milking the family cows, he dreamt of becoming a DJ and being “recognised worldwide, even if I wasn’t quite sure how”.

Cheeky When his school started a music class, Nkosinathi signed up and sang baritone in choirs and acapella groups before pursuing his interest in music at college. Though now a globally recognised star, his rise to fame might not have happened at all if it were not for his cheeky resourcefulness as a teenager.

Aged 19 and attending music school in Durban, he formed a band, SHANA (Simply Hot and Naturally African), which blended electronic music and r&b with traditional African sounds. Initially, he was a songwriter and DJ, but one night he snuck into the college’s in-house

studio to rehearse and record songs. He’d never used a computer before but soon got hooked, taught himself the basics and was later made the studio’s unofficial technician.

After leaving the band, he began DJing alone. Slow, soulful ’90s sounds like Soul 2 Soul and Mariah Carey and local house sub-styles like Kwaito and Midtempo were his go-to. It was a 1998 compilation, ‘Fresh House Flava Vol. 1’ released by Jo’burg label House Afrika, which fully turned him, and many of his generation in South Africa, on to house music.

Pivotal Turn

Naturally, his passion for producing soon flourished and the early 2000s he made a pivotal move by applying to the Red Bull Music Academy. He got in, and the melting pot of students he attended with introduced him to all manner of dance styles and inspired him to do his own remixes and bootlegs. One of them, his remix of Hugh Masekela’s ‘Stimela’ provided a breakthrough moment and it quickly solidified his place in the South African scene.

By 2005, Black Coffee had launched his own label, Soulistic Music, and released his debut self-titled album. It featured hits like ‘Happiness’ and his remix of ‘Stimela’, which both opened the door to international expansion. His sound was distinctive even back then. Marked by soothing synths and slow, emotive drums with a perfect blend of jazz melodies, Afrobeat rhythms and deep house grooves, it was rooted in African culture yet sounded forward-thinking on the world stage.

Staying True

Over the decades, Black Coffee has continued to push boundaries while staying true to his roots. His 2011 Africa Rising project is one such example – a sold-out show, at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium, featuring a 24-piece orchestra that married house music with orchestral grandeur. He’s received numerous accolades for his work, including the

South African Music Awards, recognition at the MTV Awards in various territories and, most famously of all, a GRAMMY for his 2021 album ‘Subconsciously’.

He now plays only the biggest events in the world, whether that’s his residency in Ibiza, sold-out shows in Las Vegas or his upcoming gig for Playa Pacha in Dubai. Importantly, his sound still embodies depth and soul. Like his liquid namesake, Black Coffee tunes are strong on flavour, with enticing top notes. His productions are powerful expressions of personal storytelling and universal connection. That makes Black Coffee a true dance music icon.

Get Your Coffee Fix!

These three tunes give an insight into what Black Coffee does best.

1. Black Coffee feat. Zakes ‘Juju’ (Home Brewed)

Maphumulo has always been about platforming and uplifting his South African peers and this tune from 2010 did just that. It was the first big break for singer Zakes Bantwini and was nominated for Record of the Year at the South African Music Awards. It’s heavy, tribal and club ready.

2. Black Coffee feat Sabrina Claudio ‘SBCNCSLY’ (Ultra)

From his GRAMMY-winning album, this is a prime example of the producer’s soulful depths and the spiritualism of his music. Intimate vocal whispers pair with vast, cavernous drums to stunning effect.

3. Black Coffee, &Me, Keinemusik ‘The Rapture Pt. III’ (Keinemusik)

Decades after putting out his first tunes, the South African continues to evolve. This one, alongside the much-hyped Keinemusik crew in 2023, was one of the year’s biggest with rousing drums and exquisite strings.

Black Coffee headlines ICONS by Playa Pacha at FIVE LUXE, JBR, on 3 April 2025. He’s joined by Parallelle and Fabrice. Doors 7pm. Tickets from AED 350.