Black To Receive An International Achievement Award At #SAMA28

Congratulations are in for internationally acclaimed DJ Black Coffee, who will be presented with the International Achievement Award at the 18 Instalment of the South African Music Awards (SAMA28), in recognition of his prolific international musical career and setting a gold standard of excellence.

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As Black Coffee proved on his 2009 SAMA-winning album Home Brewed, the DJ and producer defies convention. Sidestepping Afro-house clichés in favour of restrained sophistication, Black Coffee's penchant is for true Afropolitan house. His biggest breakthrough however was in 2017 when his classic Superman was reimagined into Get it Together by Drake and globally released.

Since his introduction to the music industry, Black Coffee has amassed a number of firsts; many of which have cemented his place on the SA music legends list; these include being the first DJ to perform at Coachella twice, the first African artist to have his show on Apple Music’s Beat 1 and the first African DJ to win a BET award. In 2022, he became the first African DJ to win a Grammy award for his album SBCNCSLY which includes features from the likes of Pharrell Williams, Diplo, Kelly Rowland and Cassie. This moment came shortly after he launched the Black Coffee Foundation and before the news that he had shaped the sound of Drake’s latest project Honestly, Nevermind.

 The multiple SAMA winner has additionally invested in building a school and in a music streaming platform merged with a social networking platform called GongBox that aims to have artists own the rights to their music and allow them to profit in the most positive light.

RiSA CEO Nhlanhla Sibisi said: "We are proud to be recognising these national treasures and ambassadors of South African music. These acts have not only raised the profile of South African music as a whole but served to inspire, nurture and cultivate South African talent. Deservedly, these individuals will be presented with these honours at Sun City.

Legendary musicians Joe Nina, Jimmy Dludlu and McCoy Mrubata are set to receive the #SAMA28 Lifetime Achievement Award this year. The award recognises musical giants who have significantly contributed to the development, upliftment, and advancement of the South African music industry over at least two decades.

Joe Nina

Makhosini Xaba, known as Joe Nina, was born to a guitarist father and a vocalist mother. The first born of four children cut his teeth in the music industry at 14 by providing music production services under Teal Polygram, Sony, BMG, Gallo and other international record distribution companies. By the age of 25, his persistence, creativity, and ability to experiment with different genres saw him find expression in a new genre termed kwaito, and it was not long before his musical innovation saw him crowned as one of the pioneers of kwaito.

Since the release of his 1994 breakthrough second album Ding Dong, Joe Nina has gone on to release over 20 albums and produced for more than 50 South African artists, including Ringo Madlingozi, Ray Phiri, Sibongile Khumalo, Tsepo Tshola and Sharon D, among other talented musicians.

Committed to the development of local talent, Joe Nina is a devoted arts activist whose belief in empowerment and economic independence saw him found Killa Joe Records as a platform to transform and economically develop young musicians. Joe Nina is a recipient of three SAMA awards: Best African Pop Album (2000 and 2001) and Best Alternative African Music Album (2010).

These distinguished honours will be handed over at the 28th SAMAs which will take place on Sunday, 28 August 2022 at Sun City, broadcast live on SABC 1 at 20:00.

Image Cred: ANMG