The Collaborative International Dictionary
Tongo \Ton"go\, n. The mangrove; -- so called in the Pacific Islands.
Wikipedia
Abelardo Gutiérrez Alanya (born 24 September 1957), known by his nickname "Tongo", is a Peruvian singer-songwriter and actor. He began his music career in 1980 as a singer of Peruvian cumbia, a type of popular music. Tongo was largely unknown outside of his musical niche (traditionally of the lower class) until his song "La pituca", whose theme focuses on social status and inequality, attained national notability at the start of the twenty-first century. In 2010, Peruvian newspaper El Comercio listed Tongo as one of the most popular artists in Peruvian show business.
An important part of Tongo's success has been his amiable relationship with the Peruvian mainstream media and willingness to use his popularity towards commercial advertisements and political campaigns. His tumultuous friendship with Emmy Award-winning writer and journalist Jaime Bayly proved particularly crucial for Tongo's rise to fame, as he became a regular guest in Bayly's television program in Peru. In the realm of politics, aside from promoting Bayly's election to the presidency with the song "Jaime para presidente", Tongo unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2005 and caused controversy (and a strain in his friendship with Bayly) when he participated in Lourdes Flores Nano's 2010 campaign for the mayorship of Lima.
Tongo's national stardom reached its peak in 2008, when he released a purposely goofy English version of "La pituca". The song, notorious for its orthographical errors and erroneous verse translations, surpassed the popularity of the original and even became a YouTube hit. Since then, he has continued to entice the public with intentionally comedic cover versions of mainstream songs, including " Ai Se Eu Te Pego", Justin Bieber's " Baby", and Psy's " Gangnam Style".
Usage examples of "tongo".
They were sizable apes, and threatened battle, until Tongo, an interested spectator, sided with the keepers.
In his turn, Boola did have sense enough to try no pranks with Tongo, so the two made good traveling companions.
Boola started to come out, but Tongo, knowing he was wanted, flung the baboon back to a corner.
Then, catching a slight oration from Griff, Tongo reached out and lightly clapped his great hands on the shoulders of two State policemen.
The fake trainer gave the clucking sound that restrained the ape, and Tongo let go of his new friends so suddenly that they sprawled in the highway.
Gabby was waving Tongo back into the cage, and Griff was getting ready to lock it.
He took a look at Gabby, then noticed the trailer from which Tongo peered.
In going after them, the keepers forgot Boola and Tongo, and now those two were missing.
They hauled him back to the bungalow, and found that Tongo had returned.
Griff stopped at a cage specially reserved for Tongo, and noted that the prize simian was absent.
In mental stature, he towered above Griff, just as Tongo bulked physically above the professor, himself.
Had I so chosen, I could have used Tongo and others to assist me in the venture that I managed personally.
The prof was showing pictures of the apes, and Tongo was handing them to Cranston, the last time I was in there.
Cranston hesitated, and Tongo promptly laid a huge arm over his shoulders to draw him along.
The Shadow beat the first thug to the shot, and Tongo handled the other.