Mansions: Black Coffee’s Rise from Rural Mthatha to Billion-Rand Empire.

From Milking Cows to Millionaire Mansions: Inside Black Coffee’s R157 Million Clifton Dream Home and Billion-Rand Empire

Nkosinathi Maphumulo, the globally acclaimed DJ Black Coffee, has come a long way from his humble beginnings in a rural Eastern Cape village. Milking cows with his grandmother in a place devoid of running water and basic sanitation was a far cry from the opulent lifestyle he enjoys today. Now, the Grammy-winning artist can afford any luxury he desires, including the most expensive house on South Africa's most prestigious street.

Through his company, Little Ark Holdings, Black Coffee recently acquired a magnificent mansion on Nettleton Road in Clifton, Cape Town, for a staggering R157 million. The property, aptly named "The Pentagon," was initially listed at R160 million and sold for just under R3 million less after a protracted negotiation with two potential buyers, according to estate agent Lance Cohen. This transaction marks the most expensive residential sale in the country this year.

Designed by renowned South African architect Stefan Antoni, The Pentagon is a masterpiece of modern design. It boasts five luxurious en-suite bedrooms, a private cinema equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a fully equipped gym, and a contemporary study. A private lift provides access to all floors, and there are also two self-contained staff quarters.

The exterior features manicured gardens that frame a rim-flow pool, and four spacious garages to accommodate numerous vehicles. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, while the iconic Twelve Apostles mountain range provides a dramatic backdrop for spectacular sunsets.

Nettleton Road is home to only 40 properties, and prospective buyers need a gross monthly income of R5.3 million to qualify. Black Coffee, aged 49, reportedly paid cash for his mansion through his company. Reflecting on his past, he once said, "I hardly had a childhood. I was always working. That was my environment. I knew whatever you need, you have to work for it."

But the road to success was not without its challenges.

Tragedy struck early in Black Coffee's life. On the night of Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990, the then 14-year-old Nkosinathi Maphumulo joined crowds marching towards a stadium near his home. "The crowd was gathering more people as we moved toward the stadium," he recalls. A car, with its lights switched off, drove into the crowd. "I just blacked out. When I woke up there was fire, people were screaming. This driver switched off his lights to literally just kill people with his car." The crowd retaliated, setting the vehicle and driver alight, although the driver survived.

The incident left Black Coffee with a dislocated shoulder and a largely paralysed left arm. Despite this setback, he persevered, learning to DJ with one hand. He even broke the Guinness World Record for the longest one-handed DJ set at 60 hours.

Black Coffee's musical journey began with his cousin, who played at beauty pageants and graduation parties with his mobile disco. "When he wasn’t working, he’d connect his system up in his flat and play music. I was curious and would go through the cassettes," he recalls. After school, he enrolled in a jazz programme at the Durban University of Technology but dropped out to form the group Shana. Despite signing with a record label, the band struggled to gain mainstream recognition. "Radio wouldn’t touch us," Black Coffee recalls. "We struggled getting played."

A turning point came in 2003 when he joined the Red Bull Music Academy, a global programme that ran from 1998 to 2019. There, he met jazz legend Hugh Masekela. He created a remix of Masekela's "Stimela" that became his breakthrough, leading to his self-titled debut album in 2005, which won best

urban dance album at the SA Music Awards. His success continued with hits such as "Superman" featuring Bucie, "We Dance Again" featuring Nakhane Touré, and "Come With Me" featuring Mque.

Collaborations with international artists further propelled his career. He worked with Alicia Keys on her song "In Common," which led to a collaboration with Usher on "LaLaLa." However, it was his partnership with Drake that catapulted him to global stardom. In 2017, the rapper sampled Black Coffee's 2009 hit "Superman" on his track "Get It Together," exposing the DJ to a massive international audience. He then executive-produced Drake's 2022 album "Honestly, Nevermind," solidifying his position as a powerhouse producer.

In 2022, Black Coffee made history at the Grammy Awards, becoming the first African artist to win best dance/electronic album for his seventh album, "Subconsciously." The album featured collaborations with Pharrell Williams, David Guetta, Diplo, and Usher. "I want to thank God for the gift of music and being able to share it with the world and heal some souls," Black Coffee said, thanking his collaborators for believing in him as "a smaller artist." He added, "To be recognised in this way outside of the world music category makes all of the hard work worth it." His son Esona joined him on stage to accept the award. "The main reason I do what I do is to carry the flag of my country," he said.

Black Coffee's personal life has also been a subject of public interest. He first met actress and fashion designer Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa on the set of the SABC drama "Tshisa" in 2010. After she became single, a romance quickly blossomed, and three months later, he proposed in Greece. They married in a traditional ceremony in 2011 and had a lavish white wedding in Sun City in 2017.

They had two sons, Anesu and Asante, adding to Black Coffee's existing children, Esona and Lilitha, from a previous relationship. At the height of their happiness, Black Coffee praised Enhle as "everything I ever wanted as a partner. She’s a wonderful mother and a great wife."

With an estimated net worth of R1.38 billion, Black Coffee lives a lifestyle of luxury. His car collection alone is worth over R100 million and includes a Lamborghini Urus, a Ferrari 458 Speciale, a Maserati MC20, a Mercedes-AMG SLS, a Bentley Mulsanne, and a Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost. He has also embraced sustainability with an all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre. A classic 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL adds a touch of vintage charm to his collection.

Beyond his music career, Black Coffee has built a diverse business empire. He founded Soulistic Music in 2005 and has a significant stake in Gallo Music Investments. His investment holding company, FlightMode Digital, manages his content projects and early-stage investments in tech companies such as Sweepsouth, Yoco, and Epione Healthcare Solutions. He also owns Zone 6 Venue, a nightclub in Soweto, and runs the Black Coffee Foundation, which focuses on social upliftment and education.

Black Coffee is now in a relationship with Venezuelan model Victoria Gonzalez. Despite being smitten, the DJ has stated that he will not marry again. "I know for a fact I won’t get married again," he told MacG’s podcast. "I’m clear about that because I am now in a better space and understanding who I am."

Behind the glamorous facade, his marriage to Enhle crumbled amid rumours of infidelity. Enhle claimed she was a "single mom even when married" and that Black Coffee had fathered two children with different women during their marriage. "I was a single mom even when married," Enhle said. "My non-negotiable was children in a marriage. Once there were two children born to two different women; I said, 'You don’t love me.' In fact, you’re going to kill me."

Despite attempts at marriage counselling, Black Coffee reportedly asked Enhle to move out. During divorce proceedings, the South Gauteng High Court ruled in Enhle's favour, recognising their customary marriage as being in community of property. This entitles her to 50% of their joint assets, monthly spousal maintenance, and R25,000 child support per child.