Genre Soul Band Members Nde Ndifonka Hometown Cameroon/South Africa Record Label Calavas Music / Lolhiphop Records
About AFRIMA 2016 winner - Best Male Artist, Central Africa. YPIA 2014 Top 35 African under 35. Cameroonian singer, TV producer, businessman, renaissance writer, and factivist - aka Nde Ndifonka.
Wax Dey (born Nde Ndifonka) is a Cameroonian singer, music producer and a social activist. He won Best Male Artist in Central Africa at the All Africa Music Awards in Lagos in 2016. In 2014, he was awarded Top 35 African under 35 by Young People in International Affairs (YPIA).
He went main stream in South Africa with his guitar acoustic soul sound when his video Miss Real, Mr Regular was play-listed on MTV Base and South Africa’s urban radio station, Metro FM in 2009. The song also featured on SONY Music’s Africa all Star compilation in 2010. His collaboration with house DJ Rowick Deep ‘Can’t let you go was later featured Channel O’s hit compilation in 2011.
He was named by Ladybrille Magazine as Man of the Month in May 2010, for the use of music in spreading awareness among African youths. He has since shared the stage with Backstreet Boys, Knaan, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Femi Kuti among many others.He also wrote and produced songs for other South African artists, such as Peggy’s Kaya Fm and Channel O charting song, Masechaba.
In 2013, Wax Dey started his own reality TV show Number One Girl in Cameroon. The show is a reality contest that aims to find a video girl and train her for a life in the spotlight. He was further nominated for Best Male Artist at the 2013 Cameroon Entertainment Awards and became the first Cameroonian to appear and perform on Big Brother Africa in 2014, when he joined the finalists for a dinner performance the day before the final.
His single ‘Forever’ became the first Cameroonian song to enter the Nigerian urban charts when it featured in the Top 10 most downloaded songs in Nigeria in June 2014.He has co-produced and featured in a ground-breaking project that won Best African Collaboration at the All Africa Music Awards in 2014 for the massive African collaboration, ‘Cocoa na Chocolate’, on which he also sang. The track featured top African artists such as Judith Sephuma, Omawomi, D’banj, Fall Ipupa,Femi Kuti,Vusi Nova; to name a few.
In 2015, Wax Dey was nominated Best Humanitarian Artist and Best Dancehall at the Africa Music Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) and Best Male Artist at the Cameroon Eleganza Entertainment Awards and performed at the 2015 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in Nigeria.
He has appeared on top South Africa soapie, Generations.
Now in 2016, Wax Dey returns with a brand new 11-track album titled ‘360 Degrees’. It is a musical collaboration with the highly revered Cameroonian producer, Cornel and Angolan producer O’magic. Wax Dey describes it as a compilation of the urban pop sounds of Central, West and Southern Africa and features Africa’s multi-award and selling stars including Yemi Alade, Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, Omawumi and Banky W. Download ‘Faut Pas Compliquer’ - https://soundcloud.com/waxdey/wax-dey-faut-pas-compliquer
‘360 Degrees’ is now available on iTunes and stores.
Bookings: calabashent@gmail.com / +237 678003050
Biography Roots Magazine described him as a ‘rare musical gem’. Wax Dey (Nde Ndifonka) is a singer, tv personality, writer and factivist born in Cameroon, and based in South Africa.
Named by American Magazine, Ladybrille as Man of the Month for May 2010, Wax gained international recognition in many fields before pursuing a career in music, music publishing and music management.
These include being a brand ambassador for the ONE Movement (an international anti-racism/xenophobia initiative championed by the United Nations), Brand Ambassador for the City of Joburg, and Brand Ambassador for South Africa’s Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Week. He also previously worked as a legal counsellor on refugee rights in South Africa, and as Regional Media and Communication Officer for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), during which period he was an active member the United Nations Communication Group. His first published book, “The Chosen One” was used for Grade 11 English in South African public schools.
The hit song ‘Miss Real, Mr Regular’ established him in the mainstream South African industry. The song was remixed by local rappers and House Djs, appearing on several compilations such as SONY Music’s 2010 ONE AFRICA All Stars and House of Flava mixed by YFM’s Mo Flava. He has also featured on albums by Rowick Deep, Motso, and Nigeria's Maye. His recent collaborations include a remix of 'My wifey' with Nigerian hiphop singer, Dontom, and 'Keep on' with acclaimed Cameroonian rapper, Krotal.
In 2008, Wax co-founded Lolhiphop Records, a pan-African recording and music publishing company. Lolhiphop Records was involved in the publishing of the 2010 World Cup song, Waka Waka, and continues to boast a decent roaster of African hits. Lolhiphop has released a number of artists from across the continent such as Rowick Deep (South Africa), Wax himself, and Flavour (Nigeria).
Through Lolhiphop Records, Wax also remained active in the humanitarian field, undertaking projects such as a music therapy programme for children in South Africa (with Save the Children UK) and a counter-xenophobia campaing known as My Brother's Keeper, run with Kalawa Jazzmee Records and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He also continues to offer assistance the the South African TAsk Team on Human Trafficking on counter-trafficking campaigns, notably in executing South Africa's annual Human Trafficking Awareness Week, which was his brainchild.
In 2011, Wax Dey joined the Good Morning Africa show on DSTV's channel 114 as a presenter. He later started his own Reality TV show, Number One Girl, which was broadcast prime-time on Canal 2 International.
Wax Dey was nominated for Best Male Artist, Best RnB, and Best International Collaboration at the 2012 Cameroon Entertainment Awards.
Wax Dey currently works as Creative Manager for the advocacy group ONE.org, leading major anti-poverty campaigns.
In 2014, Wax Dey was awarded 2014 Top 35 African under 35 by Young Professionals in International Affairs (YPIA).
Gender Male
Current Location Pretoria, South Africa
Influences Joan Amatrading, Richard Bona, Henri Dikongue, Brian McKnight
