Kmer Diaspora

Here’s an excerpt spotlighting Lady Ponce — a powerful voice in Cameroonian music:
Lady Ponce (born Adèle Ruffine Ngono in Mbalmayo, Cameroon) is celebrated as one of the dominant female figures of the modern bikutsi rhythm, earning the nickname “La Reine de Bikutsi”.
Her early life reflects a formation deeply rooted in community and tradition: she began singing in her mother’s stead at age 10, was part of a parish choir in Yaoundé and then cut her musical teeth in cabarets and live shows around the city.
Lady Ponce’s breakthrough came with her album Le Ventre & Le Bas-Ventre (2007). The energy of her voice, the rhythm of bikutsi and her strong stage presence made her a revelation in the Cameroonian music scene.
Source: Chatgpt