MusicPongo returns to Brazil and promises exciting news: ‘Connections that come from years’ rolling Stone Brazil, Angolan artist talked about shows at Carnival, influence of Brazilian music and next workspro

The Kuduro Queen returned to Brazil. The singer Pong It performs this Friday, 28, in São Paulo, and then goes to the Carnival of Bahia and Pernambuco on March 1, 2 and 3.

After a show in Brasilia at Latinic Festival From 2024, the Angolan artist faces the new passage in the country as an opportunity to connect with her own roots while sharing Angola’s culture with the ocean.

In conversation with Rolling Stone Brazil, Pong He talks about expectations to sing at one of the greatest parties in the world and the relationship with Brazilian music. The artist also promises exciting news in 2025.

The energy of carnival (and pong)

Recognized for giving a new life to the Kuduro music genre with pinches of pop, EDM and African influences, the artist inaugurated the visit to Brazil last Thursday, in SESC Campinas. This Friday, she performs in Sesc Pompeiain the state capital (for ticket information, click here).

So, depart for the Culture Trio in Salvador (March 1) and ends the schedule of shows at the Carnival of Recife and REC Beat (March 2 and 3, respectively), both in the Pernambuco capital.

The anxiety to attend a party like Carnival is not today. FUNCIA DOMINGOS DA SILVA began to venture into the art world in dance and with the stage name Pongolovea reference to the Congolese singer M’Pongo Love. Then he engaged his music career with the band BURAKA SOUND SYSTEM In 2008 and since then receives requests from Brazilian fans to sing in the country.

Although she performed in Brasilia last year, being at the largest popular party on the planet is a new experience and a responsibility that requires the singer something she can deliver with mastery: agitation.

The public can expect the maximum energy that Carnival in Brazil, the best in the world, deserves. For me it is a realization to be here. It’s all about me. ” – Pongo

Brazil-Angola Connection

In São Paulo, Pong will have as special guest the Brazilian rapper Rincon Sapiênciapartnership considered a great honor. Collaboration with Brazilians is not new. Node Festival koala from Portugal, the artist called the rapper also BK ‘ to divide the stage.

The intimacy of Pong With Brazilian music it comes since it knows itself by people. Despite the geographical distance, Brazil and Angola have a lot in common, including music. This is the case, for example, of the well -striking percussion and also from Semba, a music genre and dance that was one of the forerunners of Brazilian samba.

“We are in a maximum axé with Brazil in cultural terms. It is a connection rooted in me,” he says before he mentioned Margareth Menezes, Daniela Mercury, FAFÁ DE BELÉMforró and funk as Brazilian influences. That’s why, Pong It also views the visit to the country as a connection with its own ancestry, as well as an opportunity to share and raise the Angolan and African culture around the world.

It is a great responsibility that I grasp with all my strength to continue this made of bringing Angolan music in the Kuduro style to Brazil, because we consider ourselves sibling countries. But it is an honor too, one of those moments when I feel that the trajectory and sacrifice are worth it. Ancestral, for me, is not just the past. It is the past that brings answers about the present and the future to where we want to go. Coming to Brazil is much more than a tour. I don’t know, I don’t have many words, it’s something that comes from within, a very deep connection. ” – Pongo

Answers about the future

The effort to value Angola’s own roots and cultural traditions is noticeable in the work of Pong. Not only for the Kuduro rhythm, but also for the words. In the lyrics, names of songs and albums, the artist uses Portuguese, but also resorts languages ​​like Kimbundo.

The goal is also this. Add to me and what I represent and, at the same time, open the doors and expand interest in Angola, which I know you have. Because we all want to know where we came from exactly to have answers from where we are going. Angola is part of Africa, which has some of these answers. And Brazil almost all comes from there. It’s a family. ” – Pongo

After involvement with BURAKA SOUND SYSTEM, Pong launched the solo career with the EP Bay (2018). Then came Uwa (2020) – which means “step”, in kimbundo – and the album Sakidila (2022) – “Thank you” in the Angolan language.

In 2024 the artist released the EP Pongo Baddiewith four tracks. This year, she appears next to Nombe in the single “Sugar Rush (Late Night Snacks)” and collaborates with the band Franco-Etiope Kutu in “Namuna”. If the connection with the past gives clues about the future, Pong Promise. She reveals that she has many projects to come and that she is not in Brazil by chance:

These are connections that come from years and that we are finally here to be able to do. I can spoil with the big mother Margareth Menezes. Surely we will get, during this meeting at Carnival, to prepare a lot of good things to launch this year. ” – Pongo

Other news is also on the radar, but Pong prefers to keep the mystery. Anyway, the answers are in the future.

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