Black Coffee: South African DJ and music producer (real name Nkosinathi Maphumulo), Grammy-winning artist who built a global career despite losing use of his left arm as a teenager.
What this episode covers
Black Coffee shares with Steven Bartlett how a hardworking grandmother raised him in the Eastern Cape, instilling a relentless work ethic while he milked cows before school. He recounts the night in February 1990, on the eve of Nelson Mandela's release, when a car rammed a celebrating crowd and severely injured his arm, leaving it paralyzed. He describes years of physiotherapy, acceptance, and refusing to let the disability rob him of music. The conversation explores his intentional approach to his DJ-first career, keeping creative control, and the tension between his humble self 'Nathi' and his successful persona 'Black Coffee'. He closes reflecting on family, divorce, legacy, and the pursuit of happiness.
The guest's own work
Drive
Black Coffee
“you can wake me up tomorrow and be like can you make a song like drive I'll be like I can probably better”— guest
Your Eyes
Black Coffee
“one of the songs I released was a song called your eyes with the South African artist called shik brilliant song”— guest
Big reveals from this episode
- On 10 February 1990, the eve of Nelson Mandela's release, a car with lights off rammed through a celebrating crowd Black Coffee was in.
- The crowd's impact dislocated his shoulder so severely that nerves connecting his arm to his body were snatched, causing paralysis.
- Doctors considered amputating his arm and tested it with an electrical device that found only about 5% of life.
- He has regained roughly 40% movement and can now differentiate hot and cold water in the arm.
- He kept the injury private from the public until a 2017 Facebook post, not wanting to be seen as 'that guy with a disability'.
- His signature hand-in-pocket pose started as a practical fix when his sling-bound arm kept moving.
- He divides himself into 'Nathi' (the humble kid) and 'Black Coffee' (the privileged star), and is buying his neighbour's house to create a 'future Black Coffee house' legacy.
Worth remembering
- His grandmother was the only woman in the area who owned cows, and milking them every morning before school was his job from age 11.
- By around age 14-15 he was the main DJ for a local mobile sound system, known for mixing songs with close tempos.
- He studied jazz music formally while DJing on the side, sometimes bringing his DJ equipment into the school studio.
- He performed as a tenor in a classical play, 'The Pirates of Penzance', while a jazz student.
- In 2010 he performed with a 24-piece orchestra in front of 8,000 people in a stadium.
- His early-20s prediction that he'd be one of the most important producers came true when his album won best album two years later.
- He deliberately separates his African music releases from his global releases to avoid Grammy world-music categorization.
- In a busy year he plays more than 150 shows; one summer he did 21 Saturdays at Hi Ibiza alone.
- Asked his favourite sound, he answered 'laughter', because people laugh when they are happy.