Black Coffee: how tragedy took Africa’s biggest DJ to the top

Award-winning electronic music producer and Soulistic Music label founder Black Coffee is one of the most prominent electronic music producers in Africa. The Week Portfolio caught up with him in Ibiza.

How old were you when you first travelled?

I went to Barcelona for the Sonar music festival with Red Bull Music in 2003. That was my first experience of leaving South Africa [where he grew up] and it was also my first passport. Getting out was such an experience. l was on my own.

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Did you party much growing up?

Kind of. My cousin and his friend had a mobile sound system they used for events like birthday parties and beauty pageants, so l would go to these things when I was under age, to help connect the sound system. l had no interest in DJing. They were playing all genres of music, whatever was big at the time: international, Janet Jackson, Soul II Soul, Technotronic, dance music and a bit of South African. So then l started becoming interested in DJing because l wanted to see how it worked. Back then we were still using cassettes. l would listen to the music on my own and use the cassettes to mix. Then l just started playing live. I had such basic equipment, no decks. l would look for songs that had similar tempos and arrange them in a certain way so l could play the music in that sort of way.

When you compare your life then with now, with your residency at the Hi Ibiza club this summer and your recent appearance on Drake’s album, what has changed most?

It is amazing, but for me, it’s about something much bigger. The money thing is cool, to be able to support myself and my family. But the real reason God has elevated me to this level is to help my people in so many ways: to be the light. The motivation. Where l come from, no one ever thought this would be possible.

A car accident left your hand paralysed - how has that changed your life?

I was a kid. It was huge. We were a car full of people singing when suddenly a car just ploughed straight into us. I was in hospital overnight after the accident. l was covered in bruises, but my arm wasn’t though; it was just numb, totally dislocated.

I posted something on Instagram today about my paralysis. I’ve never been seen in public with my hand visible and so l wrote a caption about how hard for me life has been with this injury. When l was young l hid it, kids were mean. One day l put my hand in my pocket and it stayed that way, I’ve always been a bit insecure. Recently l went to the studio and l just didn’t feel the need to hide my hand. l am so liberated by feeling able to be comfortable in myself with this. It’s a life-changing step for me, but there’s still a long journey ahead. l have some feeling in the hand again now. Before, it was dead, but now there is temperature change and movement.

What liberated me the most was penning down my true feelings, l didn’t care any more. I nearly closed the comments on Instagram. l didn’t want people to say anything – this was for me. l’m excited about what’s to come, there’s so much l am working on, l feel different. I’ve had to be really strong and work five times harder. I’ve had to push so many boundaries to get to where l am today and l can’t help but be grateful for the tragedy of that accident. Maybe l would have taken life for granted. Maybe l would still be in the township [of Umlazi, near Durban]. The township becomes so toxic that you love it. It becomes your home. People are brainwashing themselves in that environment – you can’t really see that until you leave, but once you leave and find your purpose you realise that.

For me, the core of who l am, in any plan that comes moving me forward, is that South Africa comes first. I believe whatever l am doing, it is for the country. I want anything l do to benefit my people.

What sets you apart?

My drive, my fearlessness. Where l come from, we were never told we are great. My country has a very dark history between the black people and the white people. There is a new freedom now, but still, many black people have a very low self-esteem about how far you can go as a person. l saw opportunity in that. l see my career as a tool to show my people that everything is attainable.

What do you spend your money on?

I collect art, cars, watches. My most prized watch is the Bell & Ross Limitada, l have a vintage Rolex. I own about five watches altogether. l like to wear a bracelet if I don’t have a watch, an accessory. l own four cars right now, a Bentley, a Mercedes SLS and a G-Class, and my wife has a Maserati. These things don’t mean that people should treat me better. l have always wanted to only wear the freshest clothing labels, the finest perfumes.

What would be the greatest luxury item you aspire to own one day?

Right now it’s art. With regards to which artists l love, back home there’s Nelson Makamo, he’s a friend of mine, Esther Mahlangu – all South African artists. I like different types of art. I have a lot of empty walls at home that l need to add art to.

Black Coffee's first Ibiza residency has taken place on Saturdays at Hi Ibiza throughout the season this year (closing 30th Sept), www.hiibiza.com