User:Cybertrip/sandbox/Leandie du Randt

Uncle Waffles
Birth nameLungelihle Zwane
Born (2000-03-30) 30 March 2000 (age 24)
Eswatini
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • record producer
Years active2021–present

Lungelihle Zwane[1] (born 30 March 2000),[2] known professionally as Uncle Waffles, is a Swazi-born DJ and record producer based in South Africa.[3] She is noted for her work in the amapiano genre and her dance abilities,[4][5] with Rolling Stone hailing her "a global ambassador for amapiano".[5] Her debut single "Tanzania" reached number one in South Africa and was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa.[6][7]

Early life

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Waffles was born and raised in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), and emigrated to South Africa in order to attend university [3] She didn't know her parents and had been brought up by her grandma through her childhood years, until she reconciled with her mother as a teenager and had a strained relationship thereafter.[8]

Career

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Uncle Waffles learned how to DJ in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns.[9] She gained prominence in October 2021 after a video of her dancing to the song "Adiwele" by Young Stunna during one of her live performances at a nightclub in Soweto went viral.[10] The success of the video rapidly increased after Canadian rapper Drake reposted it on his Instagram account.[11] Uncle Waffles released her debut single "Tanzania" in March 2022 in anticipation of her debut extended play (EP), Red Dragon, which was released later that month.[12] "Tanzania" was ranked by Rolling Stone as the eighth best afropop song of 2022.[5]

Uncle Waffles released her debut music video for the track "Tanzania"in September 2022.[13] In that same month, Uncle Waffles announced that she would be hosting a residency on BBC Radio 1.[14][15] She was the only DJ that performed at the 2023 Global Citizen Festival in Accra.[16][17] She partnered with KFC South Africa to launch an exclusive "Uncle Waffles burger" which was made available for purchase in local branches in December 2022.[18] She then embarked on a concert tour of the United States,[19] and then Australia.[4] British publication Mixmag hailed Uncle Waffles as one of the top breakthrough DJs of the year 2022 worldwide.[20] Streaming platform Audiomack also hailed her as an "#UpNow" artist in March 2023.[21] She will perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023.[22][23]

Selected discography

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Extended plays

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Title Album details
Red Dragon[24]

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
SA
[6]
"Tanzania" (featuring Tony Duardo, Sino Msolo and BoiBizza)[12] 2022 1 Red Dragon

Awards and nominations

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Year Organization Award Recipient or nominee Result Ref.
2022 All Africa Music Awards Best African DJ Herself Nominated [25]
Best Female Artist in Southern Africa Nominated
2022 African Muzik Magazine Awards Best DJ Africa Won [26]
2023 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival Best African DJ Nominated [27]

References

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  1. ^ Aklilu, Rahel (11 April 2022). "Uncle Waffles, Amapiano Princess, On Her Rise To DJ Superstardom". Complex. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  2. ^ Mphande, Joy (1 April 2022). "Good vibes and fun times — Inside Uncle Waffles' 22nd birthday party". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b Ani, Ivie (7 March 2023). "Interview: Uncle Waffles to the World". Audiomack. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b Nikitta, Jazmine (21 November 2022). "Uncle Waffles is Flying The Flag for Amapiano". Acclaim Magazine. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2022". Rolling Stone. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: Week 17". The Official South African Charts. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  7. ^ a b Darangwa, Shingai (29 September 2022). "Uncle Waffles releases risqué video for 'Tanzania', celebrates going quadruple platinum". iOL. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  8. ^ Khalfe, Farah (25 March 2022). "5 things we love about DJ Uncle Waffles". Glamour. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  9. ^ Mphande, Joy (2 December 2022). "Uncle Waffles explains how she started DJ career". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  10. ^ Mkhazi, Loyiso (11 October 2022). "Uncle Waffles' rise to international stardom - from going viral in Soweto to sold out shows in Europe". TrueLove. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  11. ^ Keteyi, Oluthando (19 April 2022). "Drake sends fans into overdrive with Uncle Waffles post". iOL. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  12. ^ a b Osikoya, Wonu (18 March 2022). "Uncle Waffles Shares Her Debut Single "Tanzania"; Announces New EP". The Native. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  13. ^ de Wee, Naledi (29 September 2022). "'Tanzania': Uncle Waffles receives high praise for first music video". The South African. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  14. ^ Valentine, Venecia (1 September 2022). "Uncle Waffles announces her residency as a host and DJ on BBC Radio 1". iOL. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  15. ^ Mphande, Joy (9 September 2022). "Uncle Waffles serves 'the freshest amapiano songs' in her debut on BBC". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  16. ^ Mphande, Joy (23 December 2022). "'God, this year has been nothing but your work' — how DJ Waffles rose up and stayed up in 2022". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  17. ^ Keteyi, Oluthando (27 September 2022). "Uncle Waffles winds her waist at Global Citizen Festival: Accra". iOL. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  18. ^ Mthethwa, Thandeka (2 December 2022). "Uncle Waffles collaborates with KFC for a waffle burger". The South African. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  19. ^ Darangwa, Shingai (7 November 2022). "Uncle Waffles set to embark on her first US tour". iOL. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  20. ^ Hinton, Patrick; Townsend, Megan; Ross, Gemma; Buckle, Becky; Muk, Issac (20 December 2022). "The 22 Top Breakthrough DJs Of The Year 2022". Mixmag. Retrieved 26 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Cowen, Trace William (7 March 2023). "Uncle Waffles Honored as Audiomack's Latest #UpNow Artist". Complex. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  22. ^ Ngema, Zee (11 January 2023). "Coachella 2023: Burna Boy, Uncle Waffles & More to Perform - OkayAfrica". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  23. ^ Vellem, Mihlali (11 January 2023). "'Crying, vomiting, screaming': Uncle Waffles bags gig at Coachella". The South African. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Red Dragon - EP by Uncle Waffles". Apple Music (US). Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  25. ^ Yongo, Sughnen (23 January 2023). "Here Are All the Winners at the AFRIMA Awards". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  26. ^ Mphande, Joy (25 November 2022). "Master KG walks away as 'Best Male in Southern Africa' at Afrimma 2022". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  27. ^ Maako, Keitumetse (16 February 2023). "DJ Maphorisa wins best African DJ at Nigerian awards festival". News24. Retrieved 26 March 2023.