Singer, songwriter and composer Angèle Van Laeken was awarded a Bronze Zinneke on Saturday for her role as an informal ambassador of the Brussels Region, Belga News Agency reports.
The Bronze Zinneke (“Zinneke de bronze” in French) is a miniature of the famous statue of a mongrel, sculpted by Tom Franssen, and located on Rue des Chartreux in downtown Brussels. It is awarded each year to a personality who has played the role of ambassador of the capital.
Angèle received the award from Brussels Minister Sven Gatz, who is responsible for the image of the capital, among other things.
Previous recipients include singer-songwriter Johan Verminnen, footballer Vincent Kompany, choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and jazz musician Toots Thielemans.
The daughter of bassist Marka and actress Laurence Bibo, Angèle was born in 1995 in Uccle. She quickly rose to fame in Belgium and abroad with her typical Brussels humour exemplified by her album ‘Brol’, which is played in the Brussels metro. Her hit song, "Bruxelles je t'aime" is a highly appreciated declaration of love to the Belgian capital.
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“I was already a fan of Angèle’s father when he played bass for the legendary Brussels group Allez Allez,” Sven Gatz said. “I also became a fan of her brother [rapper Romeo Elvis – editor’s note] when he made his debut with strong texts on Brussels rhythms; and now I am a fan of Angèle."
"You love Brussels. Brussels loves you. And we love Brussels,” he added.
