Lungelihle Zwane, better known as Uncle Waffles, has taken the world by storm with her electrifying performances and hit songs. Born on March 30, 2000, in Eswatini, Uncle Waffles grew up surrounded by the lively rhythms of South African house music, which would later inspire her to become a global sensation in the world of Amapiano. Her journey into DJing began in 2020 during the lockdown, a period that gave her the opportunity to focus on honing her craft. Everything changed in October 2021, when a viral video of her dynamic performance in Soweto catapulted her into the spotlight. This moment, along with the success of her hit single “Tanzania” and debut EP Red Dragon, solidified her place as a multifaceted artist.
Today, Uncle Waffles is known as the “Princess of Amapiano.” She has performed on some of the most prestigious stages across the globe, including making history at the Wireless Festival in London as the first Amapiano artist to ever headline the event. Now, fans are eagerly anticipating her headlining set at the Piano People stage at Afro Nation from July 9-11, 2025.
In an exclusive interview with Krysta Billong for Rolling Stone Africa, Uncle Waffles discussed her rise to fame, her creative process, and her goals for the future. Her incredible journey not only highlights her as a talented artist but also as a role model for young women in the music industry.
Rolling Stone Africa CEO, Bellegarde Smeralda, praised Uncle Waffles for being an embodiment of African success. “We wanted a talent that represents an African success story, one that resonates with the youth,” Smeralda said. “Uncle Waffles was the perfect choice, blending music, style, and high-energy performance. As the first female artist to grace the cover of Rolling Stone Africa, she is making history not just for herself but for the entire Amapiano and Afro House community.”
Uncle Waffles shared that music has always been an important part of her life. “My childhood was fairly interesting. I always gravitated towards music because I felt like it was a great escape,” she explained. “I’m a Beyoncé fan, so I just sit around and think, ’She was so creative. How did she come up with this?’”
Though she always knew she wanted to do something creative, it wasn’t easy to pursue her passion. “I always knew that I wanted to do something creative, but I didn’t know where life would take me. Unfortunately, we are Black, and it’s hard to tell your parents that you want to pursue creativity,” she shared.
Her interest in DJing began in 2020 when the pandemic changed her plans. “In 2020, I was supposed to go to school, but life happened. I had to start taking online classes. During this time, I got a job as a presenter at a small studio. They would bring in DJs, and I thought, ‘I want to learn.’ What started as a curiosity turned into a passion.”
The name “Uncle Waffles” was a playful creation from her friends. “My friends came up with it. I don’t have a cool story behind it, but they used to call me Waffles in high school because of the character from Teen Titans,” she said.
Uncle Waffles admits that she doesn’t feel like she’s fully “made it” yet. “There have been so many amazing things that happened to me, and I’m very grateful. But for a long time, I felt like an imposter. It’s only recently that I’ve started living in the moment and realizing what’s happening around me,” she explained.
As a woman in the male-dominated music industry, Uncle Waffles views her gender as an advantage. “Being a woman in this space is an advantage. I’ll never see being a woman as a disadvantage,” she said. “We’re very capable, and people often assume that we can’t do two things at once, like play and dance. But I think we’re actually better than anyone else in every space.”
One of her proudest moments came when she headlined the Wireless Festival. “I decided I wanted to show the world that DJs can headline. Amapiano is such a big genre, and dancers are just as much a part of the music as everything else. Doing Wireless was a big step because it’s a hip-hop festival, and I was the first Amapiano artist to perform there. It was important for me to show the audience something new and inspire them to research more about the genre,” she said.
