Deejay in 60-hour marathon

At noon yesterday, DJ Black Coffee was still standing and in high spirits, 60 hours after he had started playing himself into the history books.

Not only did Black Coffee deejay for 60 hours, he also raised awareness about The Black Coffee Foundation, which helps disabled people.

Black Coffee, real name Nkosinathi Maphumulo, started the party at Maponya Mall in Soweto at midnight on Thursday.

This was after he had hosted a gala dinner where people donated money to the foundation.

"I stayed strong. The music kept me going. I'm going to be a better DJ as I was doing it for a greater reason.

"At some stage I held back tears. People were throwing money at me. Thank you for the support. Maybe we will do this again next year," he told a crowd that kept screaming "we want more".

Black Coffee was aiming to set a world record of deejaying for 60 hours, using one hand. Should this be accepted, he would be the first man to have done it.

Black Coffee lost the use of his left arm in an accident when he was 13.

During the function, he was entitled to a 20-minute break after every four hours.

He deejayed for 15 hours straight towards the end of the 60th hour.

Black Coffee said: "It was more of a calling. I think my friends were scared of telling me that, but bigger powers were behind me.

"Now, I am going to hide somewhere and sleep. If you have my number, please don't call me.

Nkululeko Goqo of The Black Coffee Foundation said: "He was doing eight-hour intervals and took 40-minute breaks. We will be compiling the package and send it to the Guinness Book of World Records. We are hopeful that he has done it."

Goqo said about 20, 000 people attended the event each day from Thursday. At some stage security guards had to close the gates to stop more people from entering.

"We were afraid there would be a stampede. Thank God things ran smoothly," he said.

His two sisters Lungi and Amanda and their mother Sindi Dandala were there throughout the weekend.

Exhausted and emotional, they said they were very proud of his achievement.

"I have been here since Thursday and haven't slept. I am proud of him because this is what he has always wanted to do," said Dandala yesterday.

Before packing up, Black Coffee pleaded with everyone: "I am exhausted. I am going to sleep. Please don't call me."