Nkosinathi Maphumulo, from durban. the term everybody now uses for what he makes, including unvrs and the o2's own press office, is afropolitan house: traditional african percussion carried into deep house and metropolitan techno, with soulful vocals over the top.

the door opened in 2003, when he was picked as one of two south africans for that year's red bull music academy. his self titled debut followed in 2005 on his own Soulistic Music and took best urban dance album at the south african music awards. he made it without the use of his left arm, which he lost in an accident in 1990, working with a mouse.

the awards that followed are worth stating precisely. one grammy, from one nomination, for best dance/electronic album with Subconsciously at the 2022 ceremony. that is the whole of his entry in the recording academy's database. before that, best international act africa at the bet awards in 2016, reported at the time as the first bet award won by a south african. he finished 2025 at number seventeen in the dj mag top 100, up seven places.

I listen to the voice, I listen to the music, and I follow.

black coffee to billboard africa, 21 november 2025

his most played record is The Rapture Pt.III, made with &ME for keinemusik in june 2023. before that, Drive with david guetta in 2018. he also executive produced drake's Honestly, Nevermind in 2022, and remixed whomadewho's Silence & Secrets. the newest thing is Trippy Yeah with jimi jules on innervisions.

saturdays at hï ibiza have been his since the club opened in 2017, and 2026 is the eighth season, running to 3 october. on 22 may 2026 he sold out the o2 arena in london with a twelve piece orchestra and alicia keys as a surprise guest, which the citizen reported as the first time a south african artist had sold out that room for a music concert. he was, in his own words afterwards, speechless.

on 21 october he opens amsterdam dance event's thirtieth anniversary with a three hour solo set at the ziggo dome, a room he sold out during the same festival a year earlier.