Black Coffee plays Tel Aviv

DJ Black Coffee has joined the likes of Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Sir Tom Jones in refusing to boycott Israel, despite being urged to do so by Palestinian solidarity organisation Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions.

Ahead of last night's show in Tel Aviv, Black Coffee released a statement on Twitter through his Soulistic Music label manager Amaru da Costa.

"I'm coming here to perform and I hope my visit will help the process of change and promote equality, through the message of peace and love that lives in my music," he said.

"If we can dance together, we can live together . We are one," said Black Coffee, whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo.

The BDS Movement had written to the popular DJ asking him not to entertain what it termed "Israeli apartheid". The movement said on Tuesday it had received no response from the multi-award-winning DJ and Miss SA judge.

Like DJ Black Coffee, Keys was put under pressure to boycott Israel, including by Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple.

In an open letter to Keys, Walker said: "It would grieve me to know you are putting yourself in danger (soul danger) by performing in an apartheid country that is being boycotted by many global-conscious artists."

But Keys remained resolute and played the Nokia Arena on July 4, as part of her Set the World on Fire tour. She was quoted as telling The New York Times: "Music is a universal language that is meant to unify audiences in peace and love, and that is the spirit of our show."

Musicians including Elvis Costello, Gil Scott-Heron and the Pixies have cancelled appearances in Israel due to public pressure.