Wax Dey
Birth nameNde Ndifonka
Also known asWax Dey
Born (1985-05-09) 9 May 1985
Bamenda, Cameroon
Occupation(s)Singer, entrepreneur
Years active2006–present
LabelsCalabash Record

Nde Ndifonka (born 9 May 1985), popularly known by his stage name Wax Dey, is a Cameroonian singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and social activist.[1][2][3] He won Best Male Artist in Central Africa at the 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).[4] He owns a record label called Calabash Music. In December 2015, he released the Yemi Alade-assisted "Saka Makossa" (Dance Makossa) and pays tribute to the Makossa music genre.[5] Wax Dey is also the Producer and main actor of Cameroonian reality TV contest, Number One Girl, which airs on Equinox TV.[6]

In December 2020, Wax Dey was knighted with a presidential medal as Chevalier of the Order of Valour of Cameroon.[7]

Early life

Ndifonka was born in Bamenda and is from the Northwest Region of Cameroon. He was inspired to get into music when his father brought home a VHS cassette. He started listening to Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and others. He studied at Sacred Heart College in Bamenda where he was singing with the school choir and took part in songs competitions, all this helped him find a place in music. He later graduated from the University of Buea[8] after studying law.

Career

He began his professional career in 2008 with the release of African Soul with records such as "Butterfly". In 2006 Richard Nwamba described him as a newfound young talent to walk in the shoes of Richard Buna[9] He released his debut solo album in 2016 360 degrees featuring artists such as Banky W and Yemi Alade.[10][11] In 2012, he earned 3 nomination for the Cameroon Entertainment Award as best artist and when speaking with Sheer publishing he said

It feels really good to get such recognition only a couple of years after I took up music fulltime. I've been doing a lot of things career-wise, and even when it came to music, I've always been behind the scenes...[12][13]

He became a LuquLuqu Ambassador to the UN in Africa 2017.[14]

In June 2020, Nde Ndifonka released the EP, Rise Again: The Lockdown EP, inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.[15][16]

In December 2020, he ran for the position for board chair of Cameroon Music Corporation (SONACAM) and lost the elections.[17]

Selected discography

  • Rise Again: The Lockdown EP (June 2020)[18]
  • Final Light (Album) - 2019
  • 360 Degrees (album) - 2016
  • African Dream - 2010
  • African soul - 2008

Singles

  • Mr Arrogant - 2019
  • My Heart ft Master KG - 2019
  • "I Don See My Wife" (2013) (with Dontom)
  • Saka Makossa ft Yemi Alade - 2016
  • "Number One Girl"
  • "Kiss of the Death"
  • Will you be my wifey - 2013
  • I don see my wife ft Dontom - 2012

Awards and recognition

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2012 The Cameroon Entertainment Awards (CEA) Best artist Himself[19] Nominated
2014 AFRIMA Award Best African Collaboration Himself[20] Won
2014 Young People in International Affairs Top 35 African under 35 Himself Won
2016 AFRIMA Award Best Male Artist in Central Africa Himself[4] Won
2016 Avance Media 50 Most Influential Young Cameroonians Himself[21] Won
2019 AFRIMA Award Best African Pop Himself[22] Nominated
2019 Cameroon Heroes Awards Impact Artist Himself Nominated

See also

References

  1. ↑ "camer24.de - Diese Website steht zum Verkauf! - Informationen zum Thema camer24". camer24.de.
  2. ↑ "Cameroon-Info.Net:: Cameroun – Musique: Wax Dey, meilleure collaboration aux All African Music Awards 2014". cameroon-info.net.
  3. ↑ "Wax Dey named Best Male Artist in Central Africa at The AFRIMA 2016! – Sheer Publishing". 8 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 "All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) - 2016 All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Winners List". afrima.org. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "Wax dey feat Yemi Alade Saka Makossa". cameroonvoice. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  6. ↑ "Cameroon Reality TV Show 'Number One Girl' Candidates Cry Foul over Rape | MissGinaPromotes". Miss Gina Promotes. 22 June 2018.
  7. ↑ Dave, Laura (30 November 2020). "PEOPLE : Le président Paul BIYA honore 64 icônes Camerounaises de la culture". Laura Dave Media (in French).
  8. ↑ "African Dream: Wax, aka Nde Ndifonka". upstation. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "African Dream: Wax, aka Nde Ndifonka". Up Station Mountain Club.
  10. ↑ "Reasons why you should grab Wax Dey's new album; 360 Degrees!".
  11. ↑ "Wax Dey, 360 Degrees Album out". cameroonweb.com.
  12. ↑ "WAX DEY gets three nominations for Cameroon Entertainment Awards – Sheer Publishing". 19 April 2012.
  13. ↑ "WAX DEY appointed United Nations LuquLuqu Ambassador alongside 2Baba, StoneBwoy and Goliath". cameroonvoice.com. 23 November 2017.
  14. ↑ Kiki, Bandy (23 November 2017). "Cameroonian singer and entrepreneur WAX DEY appointed United Nations LuquLuqu Ambassador".
  15. ↑ News Desk (6 June 2020). "Wax Dey drops "Rise Again: The Lockdown EP"". News Ghana.
  16. ↑ Debrah, Ameyaw (29 May 2020). "RISE AGAIN: Music that challenges Africa to do better post-Corona". AmeyawDebrah.com.
  17. ↑ "Cameroon:Ateh Francis elected SONACAM Board Chair". Journal du Cameroun (in French). 14 December 2020.
  18. ↑ "Le chanteur camerounais Wax Dey présente son EP "Rise Again"". Je Wanda Magazine (in French). 10 June 2020.
  19. ↑ "Muso launches reality TV show to find video girl". SowetanLIVE.
  20. ↑ "Wax Dey wins best collaboration at All African Music Awards 2014". camerounweb.com (in French). 4 January 2015.
  21. ↑ "Most Influential Young Cameroonians » 2016 MIYC Ranking".
  22. ↑ Alabi, Temitope (26 August 2019). "2019 AFRIMA Awards: See Full List Of Nominees". Information Nigeria.
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