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“The Neo-Kuduro Diva You Should Know About” – Trace.TV
“You Need to Hear Pongo’s New Blend of Kuduro and Electronic Pop” –Okayafrica
“an affirmation of dancing’s power over strife” –Pitchfork
“eclectic and irrepressible” –Line of Best Fit
“rampant chants atop thunderous kick drums and restless percussion” –The Fader
Born in Angola, based in Lisbon, 24-year-old Pongo explodes onto the European scene with her debut solo EP, bringing a melodic, artistic, soulful approach to the classic kuduro sound. Best known for her work with Buraka Som Sistema including the monster international hit Kalemba (Wegue Wegue), she draws on her experience of growing up in Luanda, Angola in the 90s to bring personal, powerful, emotional songs that are touching hearts and rocking dancefloors across the world.
In the energy she gives on stage, or when she talks about her songs, Pongo always refers to her childhood in Angola. She systematically returns to this little girl from Luanda who protects herself from adult war thanks to music and dance, in her own little world. A sweet vertigo. Exiled to Lisbon, she will put aside chaos to keep the scents, the colors, the memories of this childhood. Especially the sounds, the vibrations and the melodies of her native Africa, as a girl who danced Kizomba and Semba long before she could walk.
It was therefore in Europe that she grew up, where she built her project: Making music, singing her songs, playing them on stage, meeting people to share joy and pleasure again. Her path has often been difficult, disappointing, rejecting, pounding. This is what made her a strong, determined and above all a free woman.
Her first EP has been released early 2019. It is a new, progressive, mixed Kuduro sound. Her voice, powerful, rhythmic, but also fragile and sensitive, leads into a bewitching universe, on the borders of dance and saudade. Where no one had taken us before. It immediately caught the attention media and programmers worldwide. She started to tour all over Europe. Fifty concerts, from Transmusicales where she revealed herself, to London, Madrid or Berlin where she ended her 2019 autumn tour. Still in the same communicative energy, these great festive communions are her shows.
Now, Pongo presents UWA. A new EP which goes even further in her specific style. This mixture of influences of her African roots, kuduro, langa, zaïco, with EDM, bass music, dancehall and melodic pop, will convince the public that she is a unique artist to follow.