Jonathan C. Vivaas Kise
Pongo is the world’s reigning “Queen of Kuduro,” renowned for her punchy vocals, frenetic choreography, and in-your-face personal style. Born Engracia Domingos da Silva in Luanda, Angola, Pongo moved to Lisbon with her family as a child to escape the country’s civil war. She first emerged as a musician in 2008, at age 15, when she sang on dance music collective Buraka Som Sistema’s hit single “Kalemba (Wegue Wegue).” In 2022, WePresent photographed Pongo at an Oslo performance, and spoke to her about her musical journey and personal style.
