Swazi DJ and Amapiano star Uncle Waffles, real name Lungelihle Zwane, has voiced her disappointment following a chaotic concert in Nairobi over the weekend.
The highly anticipated event, For the Love of Amapiano, was held on Saturday at the ASK Showgrounds along Ngong Road. However, the event was overshadowed by reports of harassment, poor sound quality, and overall mismanagement.
In a statement posted on Monday, Uncle Waffles said that she was "extremely disappointed and shattered" by the way the event was organised.
“This wasn’t something I expected at all,” she said, highlighting issues ranging from sound problems during her performance to the mishandling of her team.
However, her greatest concern was how her Kenyan fans were treated. "What has disappointed me most though is how my Kenyan supporters were treated by the organisers and security at the event," she wrote. "People were pushed around, mishandled, and treated with the least amount of care, and that is something I will not stand for."
Teargas at Uncle Waffles huko ASK Dome nikama umeenda protests za must go. https://t.co/vmc6s83vgc pic.twitter.com/QYlKIj11Hk
— JN SHINE™ ?? (@jn_shine) December 1, 2024
Uncle Waffles said that the safety and well-being of her fans are her top priority. She explained that she was unable to continue her set, saying, "I could not play my set any longer while people were visibly uncomfortable and at risk of getting hurt."
Addressing the event organisers directly, the DJ criticised them for letting down not only her but also the over 10,000 fans who attended.
"To the event organisers, you have not only disappointed me but you have also let down the 10,000+ people who came out in support of this event," she said.
She urged the organisers to take responsibility and improve future events. "I urge you to do better if you have any desire to continue putting events together in the future," she added.
Despite her disappointment, Uncle Waffles expressed gratitude to her fans and hope for future performances in Kenya. "Kenya, I hope to see you again soon with a much better outcome. I love you guys," she concluded.
The organisers of the event are yet to respond to the concerns raised by Uncle Waffles and concertgoers.