By Phumzile Ndlovu
MBABANE – They’ve topped charts, sold out shows, and now they’re sharing the spotlight with music royalty, Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige, Burna Boy and many more!
Two of Eswatini’s youngest music exports, Uncle Waffles and Zee Nxumalo, are set to represent the Kingdom at the fifth edition of Afro Nation, the world’s largest Afrobeats festival, taking place in Portugal this July.
The internationally acclaimed artists will perform alongside a star-studded lineup that includes global icons Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige, Burna Boy, Davido, Tems, Booba, Amaarae, Dexta Daps, Franglish, Dbn Gogo, Felo Le Tee, Scotts Maphuma, Young Stunna, 2woBunnies and many more.
This year’s festival will be held from July 9 to 11, 2025, at Praia da Rocha Beach in Portimão, Algarve, Portugal. The 2024 edition was hosted in Detroit, USA, where Uncle Waffles also performed to a roaring crowd.
Afro Nation, organized by global entertainment company The Midas Touch Group, is a three-day celebration of African music, culture, food, and fashion. Since its debut in 2019, the festival has toured Ghana, Puerto Rico, Miami, and Detroit, promoting genres like Afrobeats, Amapiano, R&B, Hip Hop, and Dancehall. In 2019, it was nominated for Best Overseas Festival at the UK Festival Awards and was later recognized by Billboard Magazine as a gatekeeper of Nigeria’s music scene.
Uncle Waffles, born Lungelihle Zwane, continues to break barriers in the global music industry. Fresh from her sold-out UK tour in May, she headlined London’s iconic Roundhouse on May 30 and Forum Birmingham the following day as part of her “We Love Waffles” global tour. The 25-year-old DJ and producer recently earned her second nomination for Best International Act at the 2025 BET Awards and has been profiled by Billboard, Rolling Stone, and Forbes for her role in propelling Amapiano music onto the world stage.
Zee Nxumalo, the 22-year-old Afro-pop and Amapiano rising star, is also making waves. Recently, she shared her excitement on social media about being fully booked for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July weekend. Set for July 5 at Greyville Racecourse, the theme this year is “Marvels of Mzansi”, celebrating South Africa’s fashion, music, and heritage.
Zee Nxumalo last performed in Eswatini on May 31, 2025, at the MTN Bushfire Festival Main Stage, following an earlier performance at the Firefly Grand Finale in April. Her Spotify monthly listeners have now surpassed 2 million, with her breakout EP “Inja YeGame” topping 20 million streams. Her chart hits “Thula Mabota” and “Ngisakuthanda”, along with her recent collaboration with Nasty C on “Life Of A Party”, continue to solidify her presence in South African music.
From Praia da Rocha to Durban, both Uncle Waffles and Zee Nxumalo are not just representing Eswatini—they’re redefining Africa’s global sound.
(Courtesy Pics)
