Grammy-winning artist Black Coffee surprised many fans when he disclosed that his favorite local DJ is his son, Esona Maphumulo.
In a recent interview, the renowned producer was posed with a question about whom he admires most among South African DJs.
He quickly named Esona, also known as Sona, acknowledging that while his answer might seem biased, it was heartfelt.
“It’s going to sound really biased, but it’s Sona. I’m a fan,” he said.
Black Coffee reflected on a recent performance they did together in Cape Town, where he was notably impressed by his son’s skills and development as a DJ.
“We were playing in Cape Town two weeks ago. He played a set, and for me, you know, he is on a direction where he is shifting the needle as a South African DJ,” he explained.
He commended Esona for his talent in merging local sounds with global trends, emphasizing that Esona’s experiences abroad are helping him shape a distinctive presence in the music industry.
“With his exposure, and how he is travelling, how he is fusing South African music and what is out there in the world really blew me away. So, that is my favourite DJ,” he added.
This endorsement underscores the strong relationship between father and son, both personally and in their professional lives.
Could you have guessed Coffee’s favourite DJ in South Africa 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/P7mzAFWNsS
— Black-Jesus💧🇿🇦 (@KingMntungwa) March 20, 2026
Esona has been making strides in the music industry, gaining international attention after his contribution to Drake’s album Honestly, Nevermind, where he was featured on the track “Texts Go Green.”
After the collaboration, the emerging DJ expressed appreciation for those who supported his work, particularly his father.
“It is such an honour to be a part of this album with so many talented artists, and I’m blessed to work with The Greatest Of All Time to bring you ‘Texts Go Green.’ Special thanks to @realblackcoffee, @champagnepapi, and @ovo40,” he remarked at the time.
