Award-winning DJ Black Coffee often makes headlines with his ‘unforgettable sets’ – with many also trying to connect the dots as to why he plays his sets with one hand. What happened to DJ Black Coffee’s left hand?
Thanks to his illustrious career spanning decades, DJ Black Coffee has headlined a string of sets across the globe, making him one of the most booked DJs of his time.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO DJ BLACK COFFEE’S HAND
No doubt he maintains a busy performance schedule and is highly active despite two major life-altering accidents that took a toll on his health.
The publication has since connected the dots on why DJ Black Coffee plays his sets with one hand whilst the other is in his pocket. In February 1990, DJ Black Coffee was involved in a severe accident that left him with a Brachial Plexus Injury (BPI).
BPI causes severe damage to the nerve network that carries movement and sensory signals between the spinal cord and the shoulder, arm, and hand.
In severe cases, it leads to complete paralysis in the affected limb, and this is seemingly DJ Black Coffee’s case, and the muso often opens up about his condition.
Confirmed reports have it that while celebrating the release of Nelson Mandela in his hometown of Mthatha, a speeding car rammed into the crowd, leaving two dead and several injured.
DJ Black Coffee survived the fatal accident, but it left him with severe nerve damage in his left hand. His arm was left severely injured, permanently paralysing his left arm.
The accident left his left arm severely injured, resulting in his trademark arm.
Against the backdrop of this incident, he embraced his craze for music, and his left hand, which is always in the pocket, has become his signature.
However, in recent years, DJ Black Coffee has opened up about the incident and shared his insecurities. In 2017, the DJ made headlines after sharing photos of his hand on Instagram.
He seemingly shared the photos to embrace his condition after a string of posts took a swipe at him. Part of the DJ’s heartfelt post reads,
“We all have little/big things that we don’t like about ourselves, and we often put ourselves down before others do. I’m personally working towards breaking those chains in my space, and I believe with this, I’m gonna unlock even more opportunities for myself.”
“Don’t let anything pull you down. Fight for the best version of yourself,” he added.
He also took a swipe at a string of stereotypes like “indoda ayikhali” (men don’t cry), which grooms men with no emotions.
DJ Black Coffee noted that men need to embrace their emotions rather than bottle them up. Over the years, he has proved that disability is not a limitation in his decades-long career. He is dubbed one of the most sought-after and booked DJs in the world.
ANOTHER NEAR-FATAL ACCIDENT
In 2024, the renowned DJ and producer made headlines when he was involved in a near-fatal accident on a flight en route to Argentina.
In response to the news, DJ Black Coffee’s management confirmed it through a statement shared across his social media platforms.
The statement also confirmed that he was travelling to Mar del Plata, a resort city on Argentina’s Atlantic coast, where he was due to perform at an event when he was injured.
“Black Coffee was involved in a severe travel accident on a flight en route to his scheduled show in Mar Del Plata,” read the official statement.
HOW BLACK COFFEE DJs TODAY
Since his rise to the limelight, he has embraced his condition and splurged thousands on customised DJ setups that allow him to play with one hand.
Reports have it that he has a custom DJ setup designed for him in Germany that allows him to mix with one hand seamlessly. He has said the injury made him more creative.
FAQ: CAN DJ BLACK COFFEE PLAY WITH TWO HANDS?
No, he uses his right hand and his left arm stump to perform.
