Globe-trotting producer Black Coffee honoured with special award

Currently in the middle of a grueling world tour, he will be presented with the sought-after International Achievement Award at the 22nd annual South African Music Awards (SAMA), taking place on Saturday 4 June in his hometown of Durban.

Upon hearing of the honour, Black Coffee said: “I’m truly honoured by this great gesture. What makes it really special for me is that from the beginning I’ve always wanted to follow in the footsteps of Bra Hugh Masekela, Johnny Clegg, DJ Mbuso, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Busi Mhlongo, the late Lucky Dube and Miriam Makeba, to name a few. These are people who strongly believed South African music and culture was not inferior, but even more special because of our diverse cultures.

“As a proud South African, I urge our youth to understand that the future of our country is in their hands, to leave the past behind, know that they can be anything they want to be and the world is their oyster. Trust your dopeness!"

Paying credit to his support team and loves ones, he added: “This wouldn't be possible without my amazing team at Soulistic Music, Real Tone Agency and William Morris Agency. I dedicate this award to my beautiful wife Mbalenhle and my children who allow me to continue chase my dreams. Thank you to the powers that be at the SAMAs for this honour!”

This multiple South African Music Awards winner has bagged four nominations for this year’s SAMAs, including in the hotly contested categories of Album of the Year (for Pieces of Me) and Best Male Artist.

On top of the world

The SAMA accolade is the latest of many for Black Coffee, who is having another dream year that has seen him perform on the biggest stages all over the world. In April he was one of only two African acts (alongside Mbongwana Star from DRC) to play at Coachella, one of the biggest and most prestigious music festivals in the USA.

In the few weeks since 5 May this year, Black Coffee has already performed Germany, Morocco, Italy, Belgium and several times in France. Upcoming dates on his current world tour include the following:

• 23 May: Circoloco DC10 - Ibiza, Spain             
• 26 May: CDLC - Barcelona, Spain
• 27 May: Lighthouse Festival - Porec, Croatia
• 28 May: Camp & Furnace, Liverpool, UK
• 29 May: Twiga - Monte Carlo, Monaco
• 6 June: Circoloco DC10 - Ibiza, Spain
• 10 June: La Machine du Moulin Rouge - Paris, France
• 12 June: Parklife Festival - Manchester, UK
• 26 June: Paracvoise City Festival - Steenokkerzeel, Belgium      
• 27 June: Circoloco DC10 - Ibiza, Spain
• 2 July: Oakwood Beach - Chicago, USA           
• 16 July: Montreux Jazz Lab - Montreux, Switzerland   
• 7 August: Pacha - Ibiza, Spain           
• 7 October: Wynwood, Miami, USA

His current world tour follows a similarly huge tour in 2015, which saw him criss-crossing the globe over five months, performing on four continents (Europe, Asia, North America and South America).

Black Coffee is also among eight African acts in the running for Best International Act at the 2016 BET Awards, set to take place at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, USA on Sunday 26 June. Last year he was also the first African artists on the cover of the authoritative dance music magazine MixMag, and won the Breakthrough category at the prestigious DJ Awards in the global party mecca of Ibiza in Spain, also accepting a special award on his country’s behalf for Dance Nation of the Year.