Read more: Black Coffee Celebrates His Grammy Nomination
We are here at OR Tambo International Airport to receive our renowned Grammy Award winner, Nkosinathi Innocent Sizwe Maphumulo, better known as @RealBlackCoffee pic.twitter.com/s2HkCCTpjQ
— Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) April 5, 2022
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa along with Black Coffee's friends, family and fans, welcomed the internationally renowned DJ back home. He made Africa and the world proud when he won the award for Best Dance/Electronic Album for Subconsciously. He addressed the crowd and described his emotions and feelings as "magical" and would love for everyone to experience it.
“I’m so overwhelmed right now, it’s such a crazy feeling. I’m seeing the love, I’m seeing the support, it’s like I’m watching from somewhere else. It’s like magic. I wish I could get back on the plane and fly around the continent and sprinkle it so everyone can feel this feeling”.
Grammy winning superstar DJ and producer, Black Coffee arrives at the OR Tambo International Airport. #DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/rftN2wcmu4
— eNCA (@eNCA) April 5, 2022
I remain in awe of God’s grace and mercy; because I did not prepare a speech for the ceremony, with this post I would like to extend my gratitude.
— Black Coffee (@RealBlackCoffee) April 5, 2022
I thank God for the gift of music, for blessing me with a beautiful healthy family, a wonderful group of friends and fans from pic.twitter.com/HbBQdLj85v
No Black Coffee story is complete without him speaking about his life before fame. He spoke about the time he became a young father to his son Esona Maphumulo, and how his family was extremely mad at him for having a child when he was still in university.
“I had him when I was in university and my family was mad, my mom was mad, as she should be. I had no means of having a child that young. I used to take buses to go see him in the Eastern Cape and spend a day and take a bus back," he reflected.
Esona accompanied his father Black Coffee to collect his award and he said going on that stage to collect his award with him felt "so unreal”.
Coffee then shared a few words of inspiration for other young people, “I just want to say to all the kids that believe you can be anything in the world, despite your environment. It may sound cliché, but it is possible. All you have to do is be resilient and have faith.
“That is my mother’s name [Faith]. I was aware of that growing up…It’s taken me so far and is a word that is rooted in my heart. I’m not self-made and I say this all the time. I didn’t do this album alone”.
Watch clips from his homecoming below:
Grammy award-winning DJ and producer, Black Coffee, is back home. His album 'Subconsciously' won him his first Grammy in the Best Dance-Electronic Album category. The DJ thanked South Africans and his family. #SouthAfricanMorning #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/Pxh4KJaKd7
— eNCA (@eNCA) April 6, 2022
The minister even shared a few inspiring words to Black Coffee, “Welcome home, my brother, son of the soil. We know you went to the world to represent us and you use your gift of music to share it with the world and to unite us as South Africans, unite us with the people of the world. We are grateful you are here today. You’ve done a lot of things, you’ve collaborated with the best in the world who understand and trusted your ability to know a good song.
“You carried the hopes of the youth, you carried the hopes of old people, everyone across the board. Everyone celebrated because you won for SA as a whole.”
Nathi Mthethwa who always received some flack for not caring abut artists, and only caring about them when they are gone, continued to mention other great acts who have reached these milestones as Black Coffee, “Following in the footsteps of Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela, DJ Black Coffee has reached the top of his game and will continue to shine. You are an icon and your love for music and youth should continue for years to come. You are an inspiration for all young artists, they look up to you and will continue in your footsteps.”
Image credit: ANMG