The last time I chatted to Black Coffee was almost six years ago when he played at an exclusive party on the rooftop of the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.
Fast-forward to Wednesday evening in Sandton, and this time I am congratulating the Durban-born DJ, real name Nkosinathi Maphumulo, for becoming the first African recipient of the coveted best dance/electronic album award at the 64th Grammys in Las Vegas three days earlier.
We were at chic Sandton restaurant Tang for a private party to celebrate his historic win.
The night, which was supported by Arena Holdings, Gallo and Remy Martin, commenced with an intimate dinner attended by the artist’s family, close friends and industry peers.
Among the first to arrive were Nathi’s two childhood friends, Mnqobi “Shota” Mdabe and Siyanda “DJ Kabila” Makanya, who would walk with him for miles to hear DJs play at gigs before walking back home in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape.
On to saying hello to a music veteran, who, along with DJ Christos, played a pivotal role in mentoring young Nathi. Oscar Mdlongwa, better known as Oskido, arrives with model Thapi Moleleki.
Next I say hello to Rami Chuene, who was hoping the Grammy winner would be bringing along the 2.7kg gold-plated trophy so she could touch it.
Not having the heart to tell the Giyani actress that Nathi only held up a prop on Sunday evening and that his gong would only arrive a few weeks later after his name had been engraved on a brass plate on the bottom, I ask what her fav Coffee song is.
We Dance Again! she exclaims, singing a few lyrics from the anthemic track featuring Nakhane Touré.
Hello also to designer Rich Mnisi before a rare sight — a phalanx of EFFers in a shopping centre who are not protesting.
But when I ask Julius Malema to pose for a pic on the red carpet with his colleague Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, the red beret leader pooh-poohs the suggestion.
“We are not a couple!” quips Juju.
Not long after arrives the man of the hour, dressed in black Louis Vuitton with family members led by his mom, Faith Dandala, graceful in black and white Maxhosa by Laduma Ngxokolo.
I ask her how she feels about the milestone.
“Grateful,” is her answer.
Inside the luxurious marble and granite space of the venue I am greeted by restaurateur Nicky van der Walt, who got the call on Monday afternoon that Nathi wanted to host his celebratory dinner there.
Nicky, who when he was running former Cape Town spot Shimmy Beach had given Black Coffee his first local residency, said it was an honour to accommodate a good mate.
A quick hello to Nicky’s wife, Lee-Anne Liebenberg, before introducing myself to twin brothers Bandile and Banele Mbere, known as Major League DJz, who were DJing on the evening.
Guests are served an amuse bouche of shiso truffle oysters and enjoy izakaya-style starters like rock shrimp with spicy mayo, chicken yakitori and tuna tataki with onion ponzu sauce before cute Scandal actress Nomvelo Makhanya gets on stage to welcome us.
A prayer follows before speakers, including recently announced Global Citizen patron for Africa and Lebashe Investment Group founder and chair Tshepo Mahloele (whose company also owns this paper), address us.
A touching moment was when Nathi’s buddies, Shota and DJ Kabila, reminisced about their friend, with Shota emphasising his selfless nature and assuring us “there is so much more to come”.
And when the man of the hour does come up the first thing he says is, “Wow”, going on to talk about his a-ha moment as a kid when he got the chance to watch Oskido and Christos set up for a gig in his small town and knowing as he listened to the sound from the vinyl record stream through the speakers “that this is what I want to do”.
“To get this far, from a little boy who just wanted to play music, who is extremely ambitious ... fast-forward to a moment on Sunday in Las Vegas when my name was called out to receive the biggest award in the music space, I was so overwhelmed — as I am at this moment, still,” he said.
We later tuck into mains of either Peking duck with pancakes, Wagyu fillet or teriyaki salmon while dessert is a decadent salted caramel fondant.
As Major League DJz hit the decks, guests who came for the party side of the night included newly single TV presenter Minnie Dlamini, singer Langa Mavuso and designer David Tlale.
And from a Grammy award winning son of our soil to a designer who recently saw one of his electric blue beaded numbers worn by a three times recipient of America’s highest musical honour.
That’s Gert-Johan Coetzee, who unveiled his autumn winter collection on Monday afternoon at a high tea get-together at Zebra Square Gallery in Hyde Park Corner shopping centre.
The event was a partnership between Gert and the gallery, which is the official local distributor for the Swiss luxury Chopard watches.
Ogling some of the timepieces was society grand dame Peta Eggierth-Symes, there with her husband Peter. I chat to Klaus Grogor, who owns the collector’s car showroom about the foray into luxury accessories and he explains that “traditionally, Chopard has always been associated with motor-car racing going back to the 1960s”.
Gert describes the collection he was showcasing as “an African twist on modern baroque”.
Mind you, I was intrigued to see that Gert’s ex-husband Vicky Visagie was also there (could the couple be trying to patch things up?) and meet a nice new face on the social whirl, actress Lerato Nxumalo, and catch up with singer and philanthropist LeAnne Dlamini and actress Leandie du Rant who, when she’s not appearing on our screens keeps herself busy with as co-owner of gifting service To Be gift boxes.
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