The viral amapiano phenomenon Uncle Waffles offers tantalizing visuals for “Tanzania”, the single from her very first EP “Red Dragon”.
Uncle Waffles manifested destiny in the viral snippet that launched her into global fame. “So Adiwele, Adiwele” can be heard in the short 30-second clip showcasing her DJing skills : “let it fall into place, let it be”. That’s all then 21-year-old Lungelihle Zwane had to do. Leaving her native Swaziland to perform a free 30-minute set in South Africa, she posted a random video from her gig on her social media, and Mzansi did the rest. And soon enough, the whole world caught on. An almost overnight rise to stardom she managed to capitalize on. A year later, Uncle Waffles performed internationally. She sold out some of the most coveted places, such as the prestigious Ministry of Sound club in London, exporting the amapiano sound. Back in March, she also released her first EP Red Dragon. A 4-title project, enlisting many Piano talents such as Sino Msolo, BoiBizza and Tony Duardo on the first track “Tanzania”. Seven months later, she delivers again with enticing visuals.
The “Tanzania” video, directed by Larnelle Bakala, is in Uncle Waffles’ image and fits the hypnotic song : it’s mysterious and daring. She can be seen sporting a platinum blond afro, riding a motorcycle, playing to an euphoric audience in a dark setting and slowly dancing around a stripper pole, in a bed of roses. A nod, maybe, to social media critics, commenting “stripper DJ” under her posts over her thong showing. In “Tanzania”, Waffles looks unapologetic. With the Red Dragon EP and this first visual, she’s claiming her space on the Amapiano scene. She’s not only a viral moment : she’s a DJ, a producer, an entertainer and an overall brand, headlining festivals and lending her image to international beverages and clothing brands. She won’t let this just be some fifteen minutes of fame. She’s here to stay.
Listen to “Tanzania” in our Afro + club playlist.
