Nathi Maphumulo, better known by those in the know as Blackcoffee, was named Male Artist of the Year in last weekend's South African Music Awards for his stunning 12 track album Home Brewed.

It may seem strange to people in the rest of the world that a House Music producer would have this kind of name-cred, but, yeah, as I've said before, House Music is hot in South Africa. But more than that, Blackcoffee's creations are tinged with local flavor as well as part of the global House sound. Elsewhere, local distinctions seem to be dissolving, probably on account of the Internet (when was the last time you heard something like the "West Coast sound" - and the record actually came from the West Coast?), but South Africa's new jacks have managed to adapt this music to their own time and place. What's that they say? Think global, act local. It's that gorgeous authenticity that makes their music sell here, for sure.

Oddly, Blackcoffee is currently midway through his long-awaited tour of the United States - tonight he'll be appearing at Boom Boom Room in Chicago, as fate would have it. And naturally 5 Magazine will be taking a few minutes of his time for an interview.

Photo via Blackcoffee's myspace. Pick up a copy of this gorgeous album here.