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Cameroonian singer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Adèle Ruffine Ngono, known by her stage name Lady Ponce, is a Cameroonian singer and songwriter. She is also known as "La Reine de Bikutsi" (the Queen of Bikutsi). In 2014, Ngono was named a knight of the Order of Valour.
Lady Ponce | |
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![]() Lady Ponce in 2012 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Adèle Ruffine Ngono |
Also known as | La Reine de Bikutsi[1] |
Born | Mbalmayo, Cameroon |
Origin | Yaoundé, Cameroon |
Genres | Bikutsi |
Knight of Order of Valour![]() |
Ngono was born in Mbalmayo, Cameroon.[2] Following the death of her mother in 1999, she moved to Yaoundé, where she joined Chapelle d’Essos, the local choir.[3] Ngono performed in cabarets at Camp Sonel[4] and La Cascade.[5]
In 2007, Ngono released her first album, Le ventre et le bas-ventre, which consisted of six songs.[6] The album led to her winning the Canal 2'Or's Best Voice and Musical Revelation awards for that year.[7] Ngono followed up the success of her first album with three albums produced by Jean Pierre Saah:[8] Confession in 2009, La loi du talion in 2011, and Bombe atomique in 2012, containing ten, twelve, and twelve tracks respectively.[9][10][11] In 2015, she released Bain de sons, consisting of eighteen songs.[12] In 2017, she released "Patrimonie", an album regarding her early life, consisting of twelve tracks and produced by KMG Productions.[13]
In July 2016, Ngono performed at the Viking Center in Maryland, US.[14] In April 2017, she sang at SEG Geneva Arena for the Afrikan Zik Festival,[15] and later at La Cigale, on 21 January 2017.[16] In July 2018, Ngono headlined Afrofest at Toronto's Woodbine Beach.[17]
In December 2018, Ngono went on a one-month national tour, visiting Yaoundé, Douala, Bafoussam, Ngaoundéré and Ebolowa.[18][19]
In 2011, it was rumoured that Ngono died after a fatal childbirth in Paris – however this was quickly debunked by her relatives.[20] In February 2019, rumours surfaced that she had died in a car accident.[21]
In 2011, Ngono criticized then-Cameroonian Minister of Culture, Ama Tutu Muna, for not doing enough to help artists – citing slow copyright request responses and limited financial support.[22] In 2015, she donated equipment and supplies to FoundationFact, an orphanage in Yaoundé.[23]
On 21 November 2018, Ngono married Aloys Tsafack, a Cameroonian manager and producer known as Dieu Cyclone,[24][25] at a reception near Les Clayes-sous-Bois city hall.[26] To maintain secrecy and avoid paparazzi, Ngono advertised the wedding was to be at 3:30 pm, then held it at 9:00 am.[27]
Ngono is a mother of three children.[28] [29] Cameroonian media colloquially refers to Ngono as "La Reine de Bikutsi", which translates to "The Queen of Bikutsi".[1]
Year | Song | Category | Result | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canal 2'Or | ||||
2007 | – | Best Voice | Won | [31] |
– | Musical Revelation of the Year | Won | ||
2008 | Treason | Song of the Year | Won | [32][33] |
– | Best Female Artist of the Year | Won | ||
2013 | Pipiyou | Best Music Video | Nominated | [34] |
Secouer Secouer | Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
– | Best Female Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
2017 | O bale ma | Best Music Video | Nominated | [35] |
– | Best Female Artist of Year | Nominated | ||
2019 | – | Best Folk Artist of the Year | TBA | [36] |
– | Best Female Artist of the Year | TBA | ||
Radio Tiéméni Siantou (RTS) Awards | ||||
2007 | – | Performance of the Year | Won | [37] |
– | Bikutsi Artist of the Year | Won | ||
2008 | – | Artist of the Year | Won | |
Festival Bikutsi | ||||
2008 | – | Bikutsi Artist of the Year | Won | [37] |
Kora Awards | ||||
2012 | – | Best Female Artist – Central Africa | Won | [38] |
Hommage à Jésus | Best Female Artist – Religious Music | Nominated | [39] |
On 20 May 2014, Ngono was awarded with the Order of Valour by president Paul Biya.[40][41]