South Africa named ‘Dance Nation of the Year’ at international DJ Awards

1 Oct 2015 - 11:39

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

South African DJ/producer Black Coffee has taken the next step in his quest for world domination. Clearly, hard work and talent is paying off for the DJ from Durban. Following an epic four-month world tour that took him to four continents between April and August this year, this week he was named winner of the Breakthrough category (sponsored by Mixcloud) at the prestigious DJ Awards in the global party mecca of Ibiza in Spain.

Black Coffee with the two DJ Awards. Photo: Black Coffee/Facebook
Black Coffee accepting his award. Photo: djawards.com
Black Coffee chats to the media. Photo: Black Coffee/Facebook

To top this off, South Africa earned a special award for Dance Nation Of The Year. This was largely due to the rise in international prominence of South African house music, of which Black Coffee is its most prominent proponent. Previous winners in this category include Croatia (2014), Mexico (2013) and Australia (2012)

Black Coffee accepted the award on behalf of his nation. He soon took to social media to announce: “OK there's a second one! For South Africa, Dance Nation of the Year. With our turbulent past, this is where we are today.... proves how amazing we are. We deserve to give ourselves a pat on the back for this one. I believe the more we dance together, the better we will become. I'm so honoured right now and so proud to be South African! South Africa is a dancing nation! So proud to be bringing these two awards back to all of you.”

Launched in 1998 and held annually, the DJ Awards was created to honour and celebrate DJs who have influenced electronic dance music across the globe. It is the only international DJ awards ceremony to be held in Ibiza and also one of the longest-running award ceremonies in the world. Each year the DJ Awards team works together with a panel of electronic dance music experts - from managers, promoters, venue owners, media moguls, record companies, music PR companies and DJs themselves - to help compile the list of nominees. The winners are elected through a combination of public and jury votes. Other winners on Tuesday night included global heavyweights Carl Cox (techno), Armin van Buuren (trance) and Hardwell (electro/progressive house).

In case you’re wondering, the DJ Awards trophy is meant to represent a piece of green kryptonite, embodying the words ‘crypto’ (the code or mystery of life) and ‘nite’ (nightlife and its culture).

Black Coffee (real name Nkosinathi Maphumulo) is showing no signs of slowing down. His brand new album, Pieces of Me, is already garnering rave reviews from fans across the world. The single‚ ‘We Dance Again’ featuring talented singer-songwriter Nakhane Toure‚ has even spawned a dance challenge, which began on Instagram by Europe-based DJ Fuki Flex. DJ Black Coffee picked up the #WeDanceAgainChallenge and called on celebrities like Cassper Nyovest‚ DJ Tira‚ Somizi Mhlongo‚ and Okmalumkookat to post videos of themselves dancing to ‘We Dance Again’. Many have obliged.

Black Coffee will be launching Pieces of Me tonight, Thursday 1 October, at Sappie Theatre Gardens outside the Joburg Theatre in Loveday Street, Johannesburg from 6pm to 10pm. Entrance is free. More details on the making of the album in the video below.