Black Coffee Biography: Age, Real Name, Grammy Win and Music Career
Black Coffee Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Real name | Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo |
| Date of birth | 11 March 1976 |
| Age | 50 (as of 2026) |
| Place of birth | Umlazi, eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Grew up in | Mthatha (Ngangelizwe township), Eastern Cape |
| Studied | Jazz Studies at Technikon Natal (now Durban University of Technology) |
| Work | DJ, record producer, songwriter |
| Music style | House, Afro house, deep house |
| Record label | Soulistic Music (his own label) |
| Main awards | Grammy Award, 8 South African Music Awards, 4 DJ Awards |
Early Life
Black Coffee was born in KwaZulu-Natal and later moved to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, where he grew up in Ngangelizwe township.
In February 1990, while celebrating Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, he was hit by a car that drove into the crowd. He lost the use of his left arm. He went on to build a world-famous career as a DJ and producer.
He studied Jazz at Technikon Natal, now the Durban University of Technology.
Music Career
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Starts his music career |
| 2003 | Chosen for the Red Bull Music Academy |
| 2005 | Remix of Hugh Masekela’s “Stimela”, first album Black Coffee, starts Soulistic Music |
| 2007 | Second album, Have Another One |
| Later | Nine studio albums in total and performances around the world |
| Grammy | Wins the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album |
His first album was made with very basic music software. He has said he played the parts with a computer mouse, without any music keyboards or controllers.
Through Soulistic Music he also helped launch other South African artists, such as Culoe De Song.
Awards
| Award | Number |
|---|---|
| Grammy Award (Best Dance/Electronic Album) | 1 |
| South African Music Awards | 8 |
| DJ Awards | 4 |
| Metro FM Awards | 2 |
Black Coffee Questions
What is Black Coffee’s real name?
Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo.
How old is Black Coffee?
He was born on 11 March 1976, so he is 50 years old in 2026.
Has Black Coffee won a Grammy?
Yes. He won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album.
What happened to Black Coffee’s arm?
In 1990 he was hit by a car during celebrations of Nelson Mandela’s release and lost the use of his left arm.
What is Black Coffee’s record label?
Soulistic Music, which he started in 2005.