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By Bonginkosi Tiwane

Digital Journalist


WATCH: Uncle Waffles impresses in headline show in New York, earning praise from Missy Elliot

Uncle Waffles hosted her first international headline gig at The Great Hall in Brooklyn on Friday night.


Four-time Grammy award winner Missy Elliott could not restrain her excitement when she met Uncle Waffles. This after the Amapiano star curated a party in New York on Friday night.

“Uncle Waffles big up. I went to see her play her set the other night and she always be snappin on the DJ tip, she smash up da place. Hopefully, big tingz soon,” wrote Missy Elliot on X (formerly Twitter).

Real name Lungelihle Zwane, Waffles hosted her first international headline gig, the We Love Waffles show at The Great Hall in Brooklyn on Friday night.  

“The year of curated shows, my first international headline show! And New York, you’re first up,” wrote Waffles on social media when announcing the show in July, in a raunchy video.

The show featured performances by exotic dancers. If one did not know better then you would have assumed the party was hosted at Soweto’s Zone 6, with the amount of Amapiano songs racing out of the speakers.

She was supported by Joburg native R&B and Amapiano singer Tyla, DJ Moma and Mzansi’s mysterious Amapiano DJ duo, 2WO Bunnies.

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Grateful

The now Amapiano global artist thanked those who supported her through the years, post event.

“Two years ago I had 3k followers, today I curated a show in New York with 3k people. I have so much to say, so many people to thank. Thank you guys soo much for loving me,” said the 23 year-old.

Her Instagram post appreciating her fans was liked by more than 130 000 people. Even former Manchester United midfielder, Jesse Lingard, commented, simply describing Waffles as a “legend”.

Waffles was one of the guests at the New York Fashion Week where throngs of photographers lined up to get a shot of the performer.

Despite sometimes being ostracised by South African social media users for being an eSwatini national but having built her artistic reputation in Mzansi, Waffles’s star has only continued to rise this year.

She was nominated for a BET award this year while she collaborated with fast-food franchise KFC earlier this month on one of their burgers. This was part of a celebration of the places and spaces that have shaped her as an artist and an African.

“Being able to show fans my journey in music and life is both extraordinary and humbling,” said Waffles in a statement.

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