Uncle Waffles
- Birth name: Lungelihle Zwane
- Born: 30 March 2000
- Place of birth: Eswatini
- Nationality: South African
- Main activity: DJ, record producer
- Musical genre: Amapiano
Uncle Waffles is a DJ and music producer born in Eswatini and based in South Africa. She is famous for her amapiano music and dancing skills, earning her the title of “princess of amapiano” by Billboard. She became a viral sensation with a video of her dancing to the song Adiwele by Young Stunna during her performance at the Zone 6 nightclub in Soweto in October 2021. She also received recognition and support from Canadian rapper Drake, who followed her on Instagram and praised her as his favourite SA DJ.
Career
Uncle Waffles started learning how to DJ in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns and claims to have practised for eight hours each day. She signed with South African creative agency KreativeKornerr, who helped her get gigs in the country’s “heavily saturated” music industry. After filling in for a withdrawn DJ at the Zone 6 nightclub in Soweto in October 2021, she gained popularity after a video of her dancing to the song Adiwele by Young Stunna during her performance went viral. Following the success of the video, Canadian rapper Drake started following Uncle Waffles’ Instagram account and would begin openly supporting her on the platform.
Uncle Waffles soon began producing music, and released her debut single Tanzania in March 2022 before releasing her debut extended play (EP), Red Dragon, later that month. The single was ranked by Rolling Stone as the eighth best afropop song of 2022, with critics calling her “a global ambassador for amapiano”. In April 2022, Uncle Waffles went on her first-ever tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The tour was closely linked to a series of shows organised by Piano People, which she headlined alongside DJ Maphorisa and Focalistic, and is considered the first all-star amapiano tour in the region.
Uncle Waffles released her debut music video for the track Tanzania in September 2022.
Personal life
Uncle Waffles was born and grew up in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). She didn’t know her parents and was raised by her grandmother until she reunited with her mother as a teenager. They had a tense relationship afterwards. She then moved to South Africa to attend university.
Uncle Waffles identifies as bisexual and not much is known about her dating history.
Awards
Uncle Waffles has won several awards for her music and influence, such as:
- Best Newcomer at the South African Music Awards in 2022
- Best Amapiano Album at the South African Music Awards in 2022 for Red Dragon
- Best Breakthrough Act at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2022
- Best Female Artist at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2022
- Best International Act at the BET Awards in 2022
Discography
Uncle Waffles has released one EP and several singles, which are listed below in chronological order from earliest to latest, along with the title and year.
- Tanzania (single, 2022)
- Red Dragon (EP, 2022)
- Adiwele (feat. Young Stunna) (single, 2022)
- Piano People (feat. DJ Maphorisa and Focalistic) (single, 2022)
- Soweto Nights (feat. Kabza De Small) (single, 2022)
- Swaziland Vibes (feat. King Sibo) (single, 2023)
