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By Nandipha Pantsi

Journalist


DJ Black Coffee: big things brewing

It’s only been a few days since Black Coffee [Nkosinathi Maphumulo] has returned from Ibiza in Spain where he was awarded the Breakthrough DJ Of The Year award and he already has his eye on the next prize – a Grammy Award.


At a recent press conference at Universal Music Studios, the popular DJ said the prestigious award was only the beginning of bigger things for him.

“I just love pushing myself. I believe that we as people can grow so much further especially being blessed with doing what we love. Our past has somehow cursed us with having very low self-esteem, that has really killed a lot of ambitions in this country.”

He was supported by his gorgeous wife, actress Mbali Mlotshwa, who said that Black Coffee was more than a musician – he was also a huge inspiration.

“He is so modest, but take it from me, I travel with this guy and I find a lot of places we go to I think there’s not going to be that stress of ‘hey Black Coffee can we take a photo’. But now, you find people really excited in the strangest places of Europe where you’d think there’s no Black Coffee fan, but some guy will just come up to him and say ‘hey I know you, you’re Black Coffee’.

“And for me it’s such an inspiration because it says South Africa is not our limit, Africa is not our limit, Europe is not our limit. The world is our playground.”

On Thursday, the DJ launched his new album, Pieces Of Me, at a free concert in Johannesburg. Today he will be playing at the fifth annual Ekurhuleni Spring Fiesta.

“This is only the beginning. It’s so ironic because I was in this room not too long ago celebrating 10 years of my career in this country and yet I’ve been nominated for a newcomers award in another world. I’m very grateful and very blessed to be recognised as a newcomer, this is me starting in that world.

Speaking about how he creates hits, Black Coffee says he doesn’t focus on trying to be relevant. He simply makes the music he loves and that people of all ages and from different backgrounds.

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