Our very own, Black Coffee will be the recipient of the International Achievement Award at the 2022 South African Music Awards (SAMAs).
Here’s what we know about Black Coffee’s award
With the SAMAs right around the corner, we cannot contain our excitement. Coffee will receive the International Achievement Award in recognition of his growing international musical career, which really sets the standard for the rest of us.
The Superman producer recently won the Best Dance/Electronic Album Grammy award for his seventh studio album, Subconsciously.
With an album that includes features from Pharrell Williams, Diplo, Kelly Rowland, and Cassie. Coffee made history as the first South African artist to win a Grammy in this category.
The SAMAs team took to Twitter to make the announcement.
We cannot think of anyone more deserving. This year’s #SAMA28 International Achievement Award recipient is none other than @RealBlackCoffee. We salute you! RT if you agree pic.twitter.com/Y3Gkzaefwr
— The SA Music Awards (@TheSAMAs) August 2, 2022
Additionally, music legends Joe Nina, Jimmy Dludlu, and McCoy Mrubata will also be honoured. Each will be walking away with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
These awards recognise musicians who have significantly contributed to the development and advancement of the South African music industry over the past few decades.
The 28th SAMAs will take place on Sunday, 28 August 2022 at 20:00 and will be a live broadcast. Tickets are now on sale.
A look inside Black Coffee’s career
Born Nkosinathi Maphumulo, Coffee was accepted into the Red Bull Music Academy in 2003. This was the starting point of his career. He released his debut album in 2005.
It introduced his tough deep house style, which incorporated jazz, R&B, and African influences. The record, combined with his infectious DJ sets, catapulted him to stardom in South Africa.
He released four albums over the next decade: Have Another One (2007), Home Brewed (2009), the epic three-disc Africa Rising (2012), and Pieces of Me (2015).
In 2010, Black Coffee set the Guinness World Record for the longest-ever DJ when he played for 60 hours nonstop. His international success was validated when he was named Breakthrough DJ of the Year at the 2015 DJ Awards in Ibiza, as well as Best African Act at the 2016 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
When Drake sampled him on his 2017 album, More Life, it sparked interest from other major R&B stars like Usher. Drive, Coffee’s 2018 collaboration with David Guetta and Delilah Montagu became a major hit. To end the year off, Coffee released his own Music Is King EP.
A year later, he collaborated with Usher on LaLaLa, and in 2020, he worked with Sabrina Claudio and Celeste.
Not only was he the first South African DJ to perform at Coachella twice, but he was the first African DJ to win a BET Award.
This is just the beginning for Black Coffee. Who knows where he will go next?
