Lady Ponce advocates for release of colleague, Tenor

By Tata Mbunwe

Cameroonian music icon, Adele Ruffine Ngono, popularly called Lady Ponce, has expressed grief over the detention of rapper, Tenor.

Tenor was recently taken to the Douala New Bell prison on accusations of manslaughter.

Addressing Tenor as “my son” in an emotional note posted on her Facebook page on Monday, Lady Ponce says she prays the 23-year-old artist is pardoned.

Thierry Mengoumou Ayia, known by his artistic name Tenor, was arrested on July 30 in connection with a ghastly car accident on July 15 that killed a lady and got him seriously injured.

“Lord, give strength to this young girl’s family to forgive my son, Tenor, and also give strength to Tenor to forgive himself – You are the real healer. I love you my son, Tenor, and I am with all my heart and have you in my prayers,” said Lady Ponce.

Tuesday, August 3, marks four days since the artist was incarcerated but there has been an almost total silence from fellow musicians.

“I feel a little guilty because we weren’t there for Tenor,” says Lady Ponce, adding they have “abandoned this child and let him go through only hard trials a child of his age shouldn’t face alone”.

Tenor has been in the spotlight of media reports since July 15 after his 22-year-old girlfriend, Erika Mfiya, got killed in a ghastly car accident in Douala in which Tenor and his driver were seriously injured.

Reports claimed the young girl’s family promised the artist hard times, and asked him to pay late Erika’s marriage dowry.

Stating that July 15 was “a cursed day” for Tenor, Lady Ponce says “I don’t defend him. I think I’m trying to reveal that we may pretend to handle all the attacks we suffer in this profession, but deep down believe me it’s not easy.”

She acclaimed the young artist’s quick rise to stardom in 2016, just two years after undertaking a career in music.
The 23-year-old Thierry Mengoumou Ayia began his music debut in 2014 at the age of 16. He quickly gained national and international popularity thanks to the success of one of his first titles, Do le Dab, released in 2016.

“I swear I didn’t have success at 16. I was older than him when I had my first success and I wasn’t prepared to be famous like him,” Lady Ponce affirmed.

Known as La Reine de Bikutsi or Bikutsi Queen, Adele Ruffine Ngono (Lady Ponce) is one of Cameroon’s most celebrated female musicians with at least 60 songs featured in six albums. These have earned her some nine music awards nationally and internationally.

She was medaled Knight of the Cameroon Order of Valour by President Paul Biya during the May 2014 national day celebrations in Yaounde.
The music icon and mother of three celebrated her 38th birthday on July 24.