Since the debut of her viral video of a performance in Soweto, South Africa, Amapiano DJ Uncle Waffles has been making her presence known internationally. Her distinctive style and irresistible energy have made her a favorite among ravers and music fans.




Uncle Waffles has had quite a busy year. First, she kicked off her European summer tour at Afronation in Portugal. Since then, she has given electric performances in France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Finland.



In September, BBC Radio 1 confirmed Uncle Waffles as part of the residency lineup for September 2022. Each month two DJs are selected to showcase the freshest, most influential, and emerging sounds for one of the world’s most lauded broadcasting institutions. It’s an immense honor to join the Radio 1 team, even for a short stint. It’s confirmation that, as an artist, you are truly leading the pack and doing something incredibly unique. Uncle Waffles joins an illustrious lineup of residency alums, including Maya Jane Coles, Sama Abdulahadi, Ewan McVicar, Charlotte de Witte, and The Blessed Madonna.




October saw Helena Hauff and Eliza Rose as hosts. And Joseph Capriati and Skream are featured during the residency in November.




“So proud to announce that I will be joining BBC RADIO 1’s Residency as a host where I will be shedding the spotlight on the genre that changed my life; amapiano and some of its hottest songs to date! Every Thursday 11pm UK time & Midnight SA Time,” she tweeted.




In her hope to influence and share her love of music with the world, Uncle Waffles continues to prove that she is an unstoppable force here to take the Amapiano sound to its greatest heights.












How Uncle Waffles Scored a Residency with BBC Radio 1

South African DJ Uncle Waffles has been making waves as a top-tier international DJ, helping propel the amapiano sound to its greatest heights. She has won millions of hearts since the viral video that catapulted her into the international scene, and she keeps bringing her irresistible energy to every location where she performs. Here are five of Uncle Waffles’ most outstanding live performances.



1. Uncles Waffles live at the Mint in Soweto





Uncle Waffles' rise to fame began after this 27-second viral video of her DJing at Mint The Venue in Soweto hit Twitter. Her rise to international recognition is not only thanks to her DJ skills, but also to her smooth dance moves. She charmed the internet with her capacity to captivate a crowd.



2. Uncle Waffles Live in Manchester





When she played live in Manchester, it was evident that Uncle Waffles enjoys amapiano as much as she enjoys performing the genre’s tracks. Experience her exquisite selection as she plays heavy hitters from the likes of Daliwonga, uMlando, Busta 929, and loads more.



3. Uncle Waffles for Boiler Room x Ballantine's True Music Studios: Johannesburg







Uncle Waffles left the crowd begging for more at her electrifying performance in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her undeniable energy permeated the venue as she executed perfect transitions between head-bopping amapiano hits.



4. Uncle Waffles Live at Tshwanefontein







Uncle Waffles' set at Tshwanefontein is a good reminder of why she has been instrumental to the growth of the amapiano genre. Here she showcases tracks from key players in South Africa’s leading genre export including  DJ Maphorisa and Chievosky and Friends as well as some tracks off her debut EP Red Dragon.



5. Uncle Waffles Live at KOKO in London







Uncle Waffles brought the electrifying spirit of amapiano to London during this performance at KOKO. Carrying solid tracks from Deep London, Boohle, Young Stunna, and many others, she mixed some of the biggest South African sounds in a seamless soundscape.

5 of Uncle Waffles' Most Outstanding Live Performances 

In 2019, the South African genre amapiano began to gain recognition on a global scale. Amapiano is characterised by a fusion of deep house, jazz, and percussive loop samples with melodic, enlivening vocals. It is arguably the biggest sound to come out of the African continent right now.



22-year-old Uncle Waffles, born Lungelihle Zwane, first stole the world’s hearts in October 2021 with a viral video of her performance at Mint in Soweto, South Africa. Through the power of social media she was able to reach millions of viewers who helped kickstart her career in the industry.



Zwane explains that she wasn’t supposed to have that DJ slot—but when the opportunity came up, she grabbed it with both hands. “The person who was supposed to take that slot cancelled,” she says. “Just like that, a 30-minute slot that was not supposed to be mine… Here I am today.”







The viral video of Uncle Waffles entertaining hundreds at a venue in Soweto has received over 5 million views on Twitter alone. After topping Twitter’s trending list, her Instagram following grew from 10k to a whopping 160k. Her distinctive style and irresistible energy have made her a fan favorite among ravers and other music fans alike. She has received nods from well-known celebrities, including rapper Drake and former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard.





With the quick rise to success and fame that Uncle Waffles has seen as DJ, she is now working on highly anticipated new original music in the hopes of solidifying her position within the industry through her dedication to the craft. Zwane celebrates 6 million all-time streams on her Apple Music account since releasing her debut EP Red Dragon. She hopes to share her love of music with the world and venture into other creative endeavours. The future looks brighter than ever for DJ Uncle Waffles.

Uncle Waffles

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Lauryn Njeri

Lauryn Njeri

Lauryn Njeri