Inside DJ Black Coffee's philanthropic mission: rebuilding homes for flood victims in Mthatha

DJ Black Coffee (real name Nkosinathi Maphumulo) is continuing his philanthropic work through the Black Coffee Foundation by supporting families affected by last year’s devastating floods in the Eastern Cape.

The foundation has announced plans to build permanent homes for displaced residents in Mthatha, one of the areas hardest hit by the floods in June last year.

The disaster caused widespread infrastructure damage, claimed more than 100 lives and left over 120 people without homes.

According to the foundation's CEO, Lungie Maphumulo, construction has already begun on the first phase of the housing project.

“The Black Coffee Foundation has begun construction on a series of permanent homes for families affected by severe flooding in the Eastern Cape, with the first phase currently underway in Mthatha,” said Maphumulo.

“This initiative forms part of our ongoing commitment to rebuilding and restoring dignity to vulnerable communities.”

While the internationally acclaimed DJ was born in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, he spent a part of his life growing up in Mthatha, a community he still shows up for.

Nearly eight months after the floods, some affected families are still staying at Northcrest Church Hall and remain without permanent housing. While the foundation provided emergency food parcels and relief support shortly after the disaster, the focus has now shifted towards long-term solutions.

“Our goal has always been to meet communities where they are. Last year, we supported families with food parcels following the floods. This year, we are deepening that support by rebuilding homes, restoring dignity and investing in futures,” Maphumulo said.

The foundation has also called on corporate partners and members of the public to contribute to the project, noting that additional funding will allow the foundation to build more homes and extend support to other affected areas in the province.

Plans are in place to roll out similar initiatives across the Eastern Cape over the course of the year.

After the news hit social media, some fans praised him for the work he continues to do for the province. “This is absolutely awesome,” said X user @KagiSpeaks.

Beyond disaster relief, the foundation has also been working on projects aimed at long-term empowerment. One of its initiatives includes the launch of the Black Coffee Music Academy, a planned institution focused on developing young musical talent.

The academy was introduced through a fundraising gala dinner in 2025. It was reported that funds raised will go towards early development, including infrastructure planning, location scouting and curriculum design.

The project forms part of the DJ’s broader vision to invest in creative education and create sustainable opportunities for emerging artists.

During his speech after being named Billboard Africa’s Power Player of the Year, he emphasised the importance of supporting children in their dreams.

“I want to say to everyone in this room, if you have a child who wants to pursue music, even if it’s unclear, even if you’re not sure how far it’s going to go. 

“Even if your child says they want to be an astronaut, and you think, 'How possible is that in Africa?' Support. We need to be there for each other, we need to encourage each other more,” he said.