Wax Dey

Nde Ndifonka, popularly known by his stage name Wax Dey, is a Cameroonian singer, producer, tele-presenter, writer, businessman and activist, based in South Africa.^[1][2][3]

Wax Dey is part of a new generation of Cameroonian artists who have decided to reintroduce Makossa into the urban scene, mixing hip-hop and afrobeat, while retaining his signature, his guitar riffs, and his melodies at once. Melancholy and dancing.^[1] He has made a mark across the African continent as one of Africa’s influential youngsters, excelling as a social activist, humanitarian, renaissance writer, and musician.^[4] In 2006, world music specialist Richard Nwamba declared that Cameroon had found a youngster capable of walking into the shoes of Richard Bona or Sally Nyolo.^[4]

Early life and education

Wax Dey was born as Nde Ndifonka in the politically radical city of Bamenda, Northwest Region, Cameroon in 1981.^[2][4][1][3] His love for music was spurned by a VHS tape which his father bought during his early childhood, Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. This tape of the 25th birthday reunion concert of the Motown greats was used by the family to clean the player when the needle got dirty, and so it was that Wax grew up watching and listening to Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross and many more.^[4]

For seven years (1990–1997), Wax went to boarding school at Sacred Heart College in Mankon, Bamenda. The college had the most popular choir in the city of Bamenda, and in his last years in the school, Wax took to playing guitar for the choir, after several years of not playing the instrument. Sacred Heart College was also the place where Wax would write his first song, "Faraway Child", a song which became an anthem among his classmates. The melodious nature of Wax’s music, and even many of his chord progressions are till date, reminiscent of many of the songs they were taught in the Sacred Heart Choir, by Marist Brother Joseph McKee, brother of Gospel great Mary McKee and himself an adept musician.^[4]

Wax got into Law School at the University of Buea in 1997 at the age of 16. He and a handful of ex-Sacred Heart College mates immediately started changing the music scene. He wrote a musical "Political Showdown in UB" staged by these mates, and it became an instant hit. With friends like Ndelle Kevin (Ice), Enow Kingsley and Nsame Gideon (King), Wax would create a new culture of show business in the small university town. He became known as a performer and concert organizer, organizing sell-out shows like Divas 99 and LahSound Music Awards in 2000, and even the Law Society Concert in 1999, during his term as President of the Law Society. It was during this period that Wax began his first studio recordings.^[4]

After graduating, he left for South Africa for postgraduate studies and also to start a new life. He arrived at the then Johannesburg International Airport with nothing but 20 dollars to his name.^[4]

Career

While studying in South Africa, Wax began performing to pay his bills. He wrote a story for DRUM magazine, for which he was paid 500 rand. That he used to buy a second-hand guitar, and began playing at private parties until he found an agent, Lara Patrocino, who introduced him to corporate gigs. It was Lara's belief in Wax that first made him think of himself as a real musician, but a career only kicked off when veteran producer, Neill Solomon, brought Wax together with Zulu crooner, Shaluza Max at Passage One Music. The duet, African Lady, done in French, English, Zulu and Duala caught the attention of Dan Chiorboli, who invited Wax to perform at the Awesome Africa Music Festival in Durban in 2003. There Wax met Gito Baloi of Tananas fame, who fell in love with his music and arranged to record a CD with him. Less than a week before they were due to start recording, Gito was viciously murdered.^[4]

Determined to carry on the project, Wax roped in other co-producers, and began recording Ali Gets His Arms. The product is a 14-track album that summarizes the effervescent personality of this young musician. "Ali Gets His Arms" was the last recorded song written in the studio. The profoundness of Wax’ artistic disposition was evident when he first appeared on TV as a dreadlocked youngster singing passionately about the plight of Ali Ismail Abbas of Iraq, a 12-year-old boy who had lost his limbs and entire family in the Iraq war. Ali was fitted with new arms after a media commotion. In the song "Ali Gets His Arms", Wax protests "Ali gets his arms, but he has no one to run to". Lines like this have endeared him as a writer and a musician to listeners across the continent and the world.^[4]

The album sourced from different cultures to explore African music. "Wehim wo", featuring Nigerian Kora Awards winner Kunle, is done in Yoruba and English and explores some deep folk rhythms. Another number fuses Mabghalum, a traditional Cameroonian dance, with hip-hop, to render one of Gospel’s treasures. The album also features Zolile, gospel singer from Joyous Celebration giving it a local South African feel.^[4]

After performing countless live shows with different musicians, Wax brought together his dream team: South African drummer Simon Annett, Congolese bassist Simon Valouveta, Congolese pianist Nelson Malela, Cuban percussionist Joseph Averjel, and occasionally Congolese guitarist Chris Bakalanga. After a week in the studio with engineer Paris Zannos, he emerged with the highly acclaimed African Soul.^[4]

African Soul, his 2008 release, with soulful songs like "Butterfly" propelled Wax to the stature of a respected afrosoul icon. African Soul is a musical journey through a penniless youngster's bold move from Cameroon through, several international borders, to South Africa where he finally gets a chance to pursue his African Dream. It is a story that has been adopted by the City of Joburg in their latest international "reality" tourism campaign, a campaign that uses Wax's image and achievements to attract other entrepreneurial youths to the City of Gold.^[4]

One of his best work is the semi-biographical album African dream released in July 2009. In the album, he tells stories of love and war, drawing blood from afro-pessimists, celebrating love with beautiful urban soul rhythms, and strengthening his appeal as a humanitarian activist. Listeners can expect to experience a Wax again reinvented, delivering a conservative yet universal urban sound that will entrance listeners for ages to come. The first single from the album, “Miss Real, Mr Regular’ defines Wax’ unique vocal charm, and is sure to mark the rise of one of the world’s finest soul singers. Think Joan Amatrading meets The Cure. With a youthful, contemporary touch of Africa.^[4]

Wax remained active in the humanitarian circle, undertaking projects such as a music therapy programme for children in South Africa (with Save the Children UK) and a counter-xenophobia music campaign known as My Brother’s Keeper, run with Kalawa Jazzmee Records and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).^[5]

Awards and recognition

• In 2010, he was named by Ladybrille Magazine as Man of the Month, for the use of music in spreading social awareness among youths.^[2]
• In 2012, three nominations in Cameroon’s Entertainment Awards, known as one of the biggest events celebrating Cameroon’s entertainment industry, as Best Male Artist and Best RnB/Pop, as well as Best International Collaboration for his sensational duet "I don see my wife" with Nigerian superstar, Dontom.^[5]
• In 2014, he won the award for Best African Collaboration at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).^[2]
• In 2014, Top 35 African under 35 by Young People in International Affairs (YPIA).^[2][9]
• In 2015, Wax Dey was nominated Best Humanitarian Artist and Best Dancehall at the Africa Music Magazine Awards
• In 2015, Best Male Artist at the Cameroon Eleganzza Entertainment Awards.^[2]
• In 2016, Best Male Artist in Central Africa at the All Africa Music Award (AFRIMA).^[2]
• In 2016, Avance Media named him among Cameroon’s 50 Most Influential Yong People.^[9]

Discography

Bibliography

• The Chosen One (play; Ditlou Publishers)
• Faraway Child (Southern African Short Story Review)
• On the Bridge (Southern African Short Story Review)

See also

• List of Cameroonians
• List of African musicians

References

External links

• Interview of Wax Dey by Kiki