DJ & Producer · South Africa
Black Coffee
Black Coffee (Nkosinathi Maphumulo, born 11 March 1976) is a South African Afro house DJ, Grammy winner and Saturday resident at Hï Ibiza.
quick facts
- Real name
- Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo
- Born
- 11 March 1976
- Birthplace
- Umlazi, Durban (eThekwini), South Africa
- Nationality
- South African
- Active since
- 1994
- Labels
- Soulistic Music, Ultra Records
- Genres
- Afro House, Deep House, House
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, briefly.co.za, musicinafrica.net
Few DJs have taken a regional sound global as completely as Black Coffee. The producer born Nkosinathi Maphumulo spent the 2000s building a South African house scene on his own label, Soulistic Music, then spent the 2010s and 2020s turning it into a worldwide headline act: a Grammy win, co-writing credits on Drake records, a sold-out Madison Square Garden and a Saturday residency at Hï Ibiza that has become one of the island's fixtures. In October 2026 DJ Mag placed him at No. 14 in its Top 100 DJs poll, his highest position so far.
Early life: Umlazi, Mthatha and Durban
Black Coffee was born on 11 March 1976. Wikipedia gives his birthplace as Umlazi, in what was then Natal, and elsewhere as eThekwini; Briefly and Music In Africa both say Durban. Briefly reports that his mother raised him alone and that at eight the family moved to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, where he joined his cousin's sound system crew for parties, an early spark for his interest in music.
He later studied jazz at Technikon Natal, now the Durban University of Technology, and worked as a backing singer for guitarist Madala Kunene. With schoolmates he formed the Afro-pop trio SHANA (Simply Hot and Naturally African), signed to Melt 2000. Wikipedia says he was one of two South Africans chosen for the Red Bull Music Academy in 2003, which helped push him into the national dance scene, and that his track "Happiness" appeared on the DJs at Work album.
Soulistic Music and the early albums
In 2005 he launched his solo career with a remix of Hugh Masekela's 1972 hit "Stimela" and released his self-titled debut album, founding Soulistic Music to put it out. Have Another One followed in 2007, introducing a teenage Culoe De Song as the label's second artist, and Home Brewed in 2009. His live album Africa Rising was launched at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban in 2011 and, as a DVD and triple CD in 2012, went double platinum in South Africa within a month, according to Wikipedia.
The debut incorporated elements of R&B and jazz, according to Wikipedia, and the style that grew from it, soulful and vocal-led house with a patient, melodic build, is often grouped under Afro house, a label he helped carry far beyond South Africa. Wikipedia lists his genres as house, Afro house, Afro tech and deep house.
Going global: Circoloco, Coachella and Pieces of Me
By 2013 he had performed at Panorama Bar, Circoloco and Boiler Room, according to Wikipedia. His first world tour opened at Circoloco in Mexico in January 2015 and closed at Circoloco at DC-10 in Ibiza that August. In September 2015 came Pieces of Me, which went platinum in South Africa within about a month, and Resident Advisor reported that Ultra Records signed him for it. He played Coachella and Ultra in 2016. In 2017 he contributed to "Get It Together" on Drake's More Life, and in 2018 he released the Music Is King EP and "Drive", a single with David Guetta and Delilah Montagu. In 2019 he released "LaLaLa" with Usher.
Grammy, Drake and the Top 100 climb
Subconsciously, released on 5 February 2021, won Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 64th Grammy Awards. He also co-wrote and co-produced three songs on Drake's Honestly, Nevermind (2022), and appeared with &ME and Keinemusik on "Rapture Pt. III" in June 2023.
His DJ Mag Top 100 rank has risen steadily: 91 in 2020, 68 in 2021, 39 in 2022 and 25 in 2023, according to The Citizen's report on the 2023 poll. Briefly News reported that he placed 24th in 2024, 17th in 2025 and 14th in 2026, after he announced the result on 7 October 2026. DJ Mag's own page was not available to us, so treat the 2024 to 2026 figures as Briefly's reporting.
Live career: Madison Square Garden and Ibiza
On 7 October 2023 he performed a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden, which Wikipedia describes as the first by a South African artist there. Earlier that year he was among the closing-weekend names at the London club Printworks, as covered in RTS.FM's report on its reopening. In summer 2025 he was billed, according to Wikipedia, to become the first DJ to headline at London's Old Royal Naval College on 31 July and 1 August, and in August he made his first appearance at Burning Man, playing the Mayan Warrior art car.
Ibiza is where he has become a long-running fixture. The island's Hï club lists his 2026 Saturday residency in the Theatre as his eighth season, running every Saturday from 2 May to 3 October, with guests including Dixon and Marco Carola. RTS.FM's Ibiza closing parties guide lists his finale at Hï on Saturday 3 October, and our Spain clubbing guide adds that Ibiza Spotlight listed him at UNVRS on 27 May, 22 September and 1 October. UNVRS, the new room that topped DJ Mag's Top 100 Clubs poll in 2026, also hosted a closing party with Anyma, Black Coffee, Peggy Gou and Rampa in its first season.
FAQ
How old is Black Coffee?
Black Coffee was born on 11 March 1976, which makes him 50 as of November 2026. His birth date is given on Wikipedia and in a Briefly biography.
Where is Black Coffee from?
He was born in Umlazi, a township of Durban (eThekwini) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and grew up in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
What nationality is Black Coffee?
South African.
Who is Black Coffee?
Black Coffee is the stage name of Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo, a South African DJ, producer and songwriter who founded Soulistic Music, won a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album and plays a Saturday residency at Hï Ibiza.
What is Black Coffee's real name?
Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo.
What is Black Coffee's best-known album?
Subconsciously (5 February 2021) won the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 64th Grammy Awards. Pieces of Me (2015) and Africa Rising (2012) were both multi-platinum or platinum in South Africa according to Wikipedia.
What label does Black Coffee run?
Soulistic Music, founded in 2005 to release his debut album. He also signed with Ultra Records for Pieces of Me.
Where does Black Coffee play in Ibiza?
His Saturday residency is at Hï Ibiza. The 2026 season ran from 2 May to 3 October, according to the club.
What has Black Coffee done with Drake?
He contributed to "Get It Together" on Drake's More Life (2017) and co-wrote and co-produced three songs on Honestly, Nevermind (2022).
Where did Black Coffee rank in DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs 2026?
No. 14, according to Briefly News, up from 17th in 2025.