It’s official. Grammy-award-winning DJ and producer Black Coffee has made history.
The “Drive” hitmaker sold out his much-anticipated Madison Square Garden concert on Saturday, October 8, making him the first South African DJ to headline a show at the iconic venue.
Black Coffee was joined on stage at the 20 000 seat capacity venue by South African artists like Major League and DJs, Msaki and Mondli Ngcobo, Delilah Montagu, among others.
The show also featured a 12-piece orchestra and a 360-degree stage set up.
It was a proud moment not only for the DJ but for the South African music industry and the country as a whole.
Oskido, his close friend and fellow DJ, took to social media to congratulate his long-time friend.
“Nothing is impossible for you. I respect the way to treat every task and face every challenge. Congratulations for filling up Madison Square Gardens NYC 🇺🇸@realblackcoffee.”
Nothing is impossible for you. I respect the way to treat every task and face every challenge. Congratulations for filling up Madison Square Gardens NYC 🇺🇸 @realblackcoffee
— ChurchGroovesEvolution (@OskidoIBelieve) October 8, 2023
:#oskido#oskidoibelieve #blackcoffee pic.twitter.com/1Za8rO1373
KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube also congratulated Black Coffee for achieving such a feat.
“We are very proud of him, his management, and the supporting artists who performed with him. Madison Square Garden is indeed a global theatre where artistic dreams are realised,” she said.
Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture Zizi Kodwa said he made the country “incredibly proud’.
“History was made at Madison Square Garden. Filled to capacity, people came from all over the United States to watch a South African headlining the famed venue. This is historic @RealBlackCoffee. You make the country incredibly proud!”
History was made at Madison Square Garden. Filled to capacity, people came from all over the United States to watch a South African headlining the famed venue. This is historic @RealBlackCoffee. You make the country incredibly proud! @MAJORLEAGUEDJZ @OskidoIBelieve @Bonang pic.twitter.com/tABGQe1Lca
— Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture (@zizikodwa) October 8, 2023
Ahead of the sold-out show, Black Coffee said, “It’s always been one of my biggest dreams to take this music and sound to the highest level possible and to expose it to the largest audience imaginable, and so I’ve dreamt of my Madison Square Garden debut for many years.”
Other fans also congratulated the global superstar.
@thumek5837 commented: “Halala Congratulations Black Coffee You are a masterpiece so is your Music lol the first house song I listened to was You rock my world from your Africa Rising album
“You are rocking the world and Africa is rising through talent.”
Halala💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼 Congratulations Black Coffee You are a masterpiece so is your Music lol the first house song I listened to was You rock my world from your Africa Rising album You are rocking the world and Africa is rising through talent #siyaphambili#sizophumelela
— 💕The Queen of the Jolinkomo's💕 (@thumek5837) October 8, 2023
UThixo abe nawe
@KanyeAbraham wrote, “🔥🔥🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿 salute thank you for making us proud ❤❤❤.”
🔥🔥🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿 salute thank you for making us proud ❤❤❤
— landry Abraham kanye 🇮🇱🇷🇺 (@KanyeAbraham) October 8, 2023
Additionally, the star wore a custom AMIRI hand beaded and embroidered shirt and cropped double pleated pants with a jacquard motif.
The embroidered shirt was inspired by “The Pyramids'', an art piece created by South African artist WonderBuhle.
The work, which was commissioned by Black Coffee, was his way of paying homage to the three women who raised him: his mother and two grandmothers.