Wiyaala | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Noella Wiyaala |
Also known as | Wiyaala |
Born | Wa, Upper West Ghana, Ghana | 22 December 1986
Origin | Tema, Ghana |
Genres | Dance, pop, Afro pop |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, designer, actress, model, athlete |
Instrument(s) | vocals, guitar |
Years active | 2011–present |
Labels | Djimba World Records, JTV Digital |
Website | wiyaala |
Noella Wiyaala Nwadei [1] (known under the stage name Wiyaala; born 22 December 1986) is a Ghanaian Afro-pop singer-songwriter who sings in her native language Sissala and Waala dialects and English, often combining all three languages within her songs. [2] Wiyaala means "the doer" in the Sissala dialect. [3] She achieved fame with her single "Make Me Dance" [4] [5] [6] and her androgynous image. [7] After making her name in reality shows in Accra, she established a solo career in 2013 with the hit single "Rock My Body",(Dance move was initiated by Van Calebs) [8] which won her two awards at the 2014 first edition of the All Africa Music Awards, [9] the Most Promising Artiste in Africa and Revelation of The African Continent. Wiyaala is also associated with UNICEF Ghana and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection's campaigns against child marriage, child poverty, health and sanitation. She headlined the 15th London African Music Festival in London. [10] In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women's Brunch. [11]
Noella Wiyaala was born in Wa, Upper West Ghana as one of four sisters [12] and grew up in Funsi and Tumu. She got first singing lessons from her mother, a choir singer in the local church, [13] and she has performed ever since she was 5 years old. [14] Her surname, which she picked for a stage name, means "the doer" in her native Sisaala language. [14] During her late teenage years, she played football as a midfielder. [15] She attended Kanton Secondary School in Tumu, where she acquired a reputation for being a tom-boy, playing football and was in demand as a dancer and entertainer in school productions. She also attended Takoradi Polytechnic and studied art and design . [16] [17]
In 2018, Wiyaala disclosed in an interview with Becky on the E with Becks show on Joy Prime that she has been married for four years but would not disclose the name of her husband. Only four people were present at her wedding; a lawyer, a judge and her mum and dad. [18]
From early childhood in the Upper West Region of Ghana, Wiyaala was active as an entertainer, earning her first income as a performer in a local bar in Tamale. After completing Kanton Secondary High School, Wiyaala's musical career began in earnest when she joined the local music scene in Wa which centered around Echo Soundz Recording Studios. She performed at local events and recorded as a usually unpaid session singer for artists in the Upper West Region.
In 2009, she recorded her first album Tuma ("Work") in the Sissala language at Echo Soundz Studios in Wa. [12] Songs like "Dannu" and "Dirik…" soon became local hits.
Looking to establish a national career, she made the journey to Accra to audition at Music reality show "Starz of the Future". Wiyaala did not impress her first two attempt, but at her third try in 2011, she went all the way to the finals, winning two Golden Moments awards. [14] She won the 2012 Vodafone ICONS Mixed Edition hosted by fellow Ghanaian DJ "Benny Blanco", as part of the Ghanaian band Black N Peach, while singing Tina Turner's "Simply The Best". [19] [20] [21]
She left the Black N Peach band during April 2013, after having released one single ("Wonkoa"), to pursue a solo career with Djimba World Records. Her first release was "Make Me Dance" which featured Ghana's first-ever underwater scenes in a music video, [22] and soon afterwards the single "Rock My Body", which quickly became a hit and won her two awards at the 2014 edition of the All Africa Music Awards. Wiyaala won two of the coveted 23.9-carat gold-plated trophies for The Most Promising Artist in Africa and The Revelation of the African Continent. [23]
In November 2014, Wiyaala released her "official" debut album, the eponymously titled Wiyaala which was nominated for album of the year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2015 and at the All Africa Music Awards 2015. [24] She won Music Video of the Year with the song "Africa" at the 2015 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). [25]
After receiving wide acclaims in Ghana and in Africa, Wiyaala began to tour other continents in 2015, performing first in Europe at the Hague African Festival in the Netherlands and later in North America at the Afrikadey Festival in Calgary, Canada. In 2016, at WOMAD UK where the Irish Times noted: "Feisty is not the word – she (Wiyaala) is a powerhouse in the mode of a young Angelique Kidjo, Effervescent and funny, she rocked the crowd and got a great reception" Wiyaala also joined In Place of War's "Voices of The Revolution" directed by Errollyn Wallen, an international collection of female musicians from countries of conflict around the world performing at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and UK festivals including Shambala, Hull Freedom Festival. [26] [27] [28] [29]
In 2018, Wiyaala, alongside Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American to be elected into the US Congress and Sahle-Work Zewde, Ethiopia's first female president and others, was selected as one of BBC News "African Women We Celebrated in 2018". [30]
Wiyalaa toured Europe [31] again in 2019.
In October 2024, Wiyaala partnered with Dominik Jud (professionally known as Dodo), a Swiss musician. [32]
Wiyaala is outspoken on the male-dominated culture and polygyny of some African countries and to stand up for women's rights and against family violence in her native Ghana. [12] [15] [16] [33] Her song "Tinambayai" in Sisaala language has been regarded as a protest against the exploitation of women in Africa. [34] Wiyaala was featured on the BBC, talking about early child marriage [35] and declaring her support for feminism as a means to encourage young girls into completing their education so that they can be the ones that make the choices in their lives. She also said her success will serve as an example to her community that there was a future for young women beyond early or forced marriage. [12] [15] [36] "Make Me Dance" has been included in the top of feminist songs for the 2013 winter by Bitch feminist magazine. [37]
Wiyaala has also partnered with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection of Ghana's government and UNICEF on several projects to help protect the rights of children and public health issues.
Wiyaala sings both in English and her native language Sisaala. She writes her songs herself. [38] [39] She has earned praises for her bold and powerful voice and distinguished timbre. [12] She credits Madonna, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner as her role models and inspiration. [38] She also expressed admiration for African artists like Angelique Kidjo, Miriam Makeba and Brenda Fassie. [12] Her song "Africa" which earned her a continental award in 2015 was inspired by the Mama Africa song by compatriot, Sherifa Gunu. [40] She has often been called "man-woman" [14] and she has builts her brand around the androgynous image of herself and for that she has been compared to Jamaican singer, Grace Jones. [41] [42]
Her music style has been described as Afro-pop [38] or Afro-rock [43] with elements of tribal folk music [34] while the latest single "Rock My Body", released in June 2013 together with Ghanaian reggae singer Jupitar leans more towards reggae and dancehall. [44] Wiyaala cited as inspiration the 1969 song "Wreck A Buddy" by Nora Dean and The Soul Sisters. [38] She did also perform in the opening of the 2014 Stanbic Ghana jazz festival. [45]
The single "Go Go Black Stars...Goal!", released in April 2014, on the Djimba World Records label, sung in English and Ghanaian languages, also features tribal drums and stadium choruses. [46] The same song had been picked up as the unofficial hymn of the national football team of Ghana for the 2014 World Cup. [47]
Wiyaala got nominated as Best Sporting Artist in Ghana Sports Excellence Awards 2014. [48]
Wiyaala's first release after the breakup with Black N Peach was the single "Make Me Dance". Originally produced by "Genius Selection" in Ghana, it has been remixed in Los Angeles by "Bill Delia" for the international market. "Make Me Dance", along with an acoustic
version, will be distributed on the "Djimba World Records" label under exclusive license to Paris-based "JTV Digital". [49] [50] The single has been released internationally on 7 October 2013, and it is available on iTunes.
The music video "Make Me Dance" was shot in the studio and on location at Prampram. It features Wiyaala in scenes shot underwater and dancers from the Henokami Culture Troupe from New Ningo. Wiyaala had to take swimming lessons for the best performance while on camera. [43]
"Make Me Dance" got released also in remixed form in Nu-disco, Breakbeat, Drum and bass and Trance styles on 9 December 2013. [12] The "Make Me Dance" Remix EP was mastered in the Paris-based La Source Mastering Studio and released worldwide through Djimba World Records. [51] On 8 December 2013, Wiyaala and Plug.dj held an online-only listening party of the "Make Me Dance" Remixes EP before the official release. [52]
On 28 February 2014, Wiyaala released a new single, "You Got The Power", again distributed on the "Djimba World Records" label. [53] The single is also available on iTunes. [54]
Her self-titled album was launched in November 2014 at the Alliance Française in Accra. Wiyaala performed songs from her album and other local and international superstars. The show also witnessed picturesque dance performance from Flash Mob Ghana. One major highlight of the event was when her parents joined her on the stage to perform, backed by the Vodafone Icons contestants. [55] [56] She also released her song "Angel" in early December 2014 during Viasat 1's The One Show. [57] The video of the single "Africa" taken from the album won Video of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards in November 2015.
During the first edition of the All Africa Music Awards held on 27 December 2014 in Lagos, Wiyaala won two of the coveted 23.9-carat gold-plated trophies for "The Most Promising Artiste in Africa" and "The Revelation of the African Continent". [36] She has been commended by Vodafone for her achievements [58] and hailed as a youth icon and an inspiration for young Ghanaians to strive for success.
In 2015, Wiyaala received six nominations for the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards winning Best Songwriter and Best Female Vocal. At the second edition of the All African Music Awards 2015, Wiyaala won the best Video for "Africa" directed by Stanley Ajjetey. 2015 saw features on AJ Nelson's "Power to The People" [59] and Dark Suburb's "Mama". [60]
In December 2018, Wiyaala released her second album Sissala Goddess, preceded by the singles "Village Sex" and "When the Lord Get Us Ready". [61] She released music videos for both, as well as one for the fourteenth track on the album Feeling Free. [62] [63] [64]
Wiyaala made her TV acting debut in late 2013 in the Viasat 1 hit comedy series MultiKoloured. [65]
In February 2016 Wiyaala made her movie debut in the Ghanaian feature film No Man’s Land. [66] and for which she has been nominated as the Golden Discovery 2016 at the Golden Movie Awards.
Wiyaala got nominated "Female Personality of the Year" at the 2014 Ghana's Fashion Icon Awards, with a dress sketched and designed by herself. [67] [68] She designs her stage dresses and jewellery [15] to showcase the culture of the people from her home region. [69] She has also been recognised for her style by winning the Best Individual Style Award at the Glitz 2015 Style Awards.
Recognized for her sense of fashion, stage dressing and style, Wiyaala is influential throughout the world with Hong Kong's South China Morning Post citing her as a role model. [70]
Wiyaala has made her intentions clear to recruit, groom, and sponsor young talents from Funsi and its surroundings as her way of giving back to society. [71] She built an Arts and Culture Center in her community. [72]
Year | Title | Director | Ref | Album | Other Artists |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Feeling Free | Wiyaala | [64] | Sissala Goddess | — |
2018 | When the Lord Get Us Ready | — | Sissala Goddess | — | |
2017 | Village Sex | Stanley Adjetey | [73] | Sissala Goddess | — |
2016 | Sun And Moon | Charlotte Appleton | Wiyaala | — | |
2016 | Leno | Charlotte Appleton | [74] | Wiyaala | — |
2016 | Power To The People | — | [75] | Africa Rise | AJ Nelson |
2015 | Angel | Charlotte Appleton | Wiyaala | — | |
2015 | This Is Who I Am | — | [76] | Non-Album Single | — |
2014 | Africa | Stanley Ajjetey | Wiyaala | — | |
2014 | Go Go Black Stars | Charlotte Appleton | Non-Album Single | — | |
2013 | Rock My Body | Charlotte Appleton | Non-Album Single | Jupitaar | |
2013 | Make Me Dance | Charlotte Appleton | Non-Album Single | — | |
Year | Organisation | Award | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | 4syte Music Video Awards | Best Discovery | Make Me Dance | Nominated [77] |
4syte Music Video Awards | Best Reggae/Dancehall | Rock My Body | Nominated [16] | |
2014 | Bass Awards | Music Video of the Year (Dancehall) | Rock My Body | Nominated [78] |
Bass Awards | Best Collaboration (Dancehall) | Rock My Body | Nominated [78] | |
Bass Awards | Best Female Vocal Artist | Rock My Body | Nominated [78] | |
All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) | Best Female Artiste in West Africa | Rock My Body | Nominated [79] | |
All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) | Most Promising Artiste in Africa | Rock My Body | Won [36] | |
All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) | Best African Reggae, Ragga and Dancehall | Rock My Body | Nominated [79] | |
All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) | Revelation of the African Continent | Rock My Body | Won [36] | |
National Youth Authority Ghana | Youth Achievers Award | N/A | Won [36] | |
Sissala Prestige Awards | Female Personality of the Year | N/A | Won [36] | |
Radio Progress Upper West Music Awards | Music Ambassador for the Upper West | N/A | Won [36] | |
GH One TV ShowBiz Honours | Revelation of 2014 | N/A | Won [36] | |
2015 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Best Female Vocal Performance | Tinambaynyi | Won [80] |
Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | New Artiste of The Year | N/A | Nominated [81] | |
Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Album of The Year | Wiyaala | Nominated [81] | |
Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Songwriter of The Year | N/A | Won [82] | |
Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Record of The Year | Tinambaynyi | Nominated [81] | |
Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Afro-Pop Song of The Year | Tinambaynyi | Nominated [81] | |
Glitz Style Awards | Best Individual Style | N/A | Won | |
2016 | Golden Movie Awards | Best Discovery | No Man's Land | Nominated |
2017 | All Africa Music Awards | Best African Rock | Village Sex | Nominated [83] |
2017 | Ghana Women Awards Honours | Young and Gifted | N/A | Won [84] |
2019 | Ghana music awards UK 2019 | Best international touring act | N/A | Won [85] |
Emmanuel Andrews Sammini, known by his stage name Samini, is a Ghanaian reggae and dancehall recording artist from Wa, Ghana. His genre of music is a melodious mixture of high life, dance hall, reggae and hip-hop. He terms his brand of music "African dance hall". He signed his first record deal with Ashanti International. Samini started his record label after he left the aforementioned label.
Elom Adablah, better known by his stage name E.L, is a Ghanaian Afrobeats musician, rapper, singer and producer.
Kwame Ametepee Tsikata, known professionally as M.anifest, is a Ghanaian musician, rapper and record producer.
Dr Cryme is the stage name of Darlington Agyekum, a Ghanaian rapper and early proponent of the Ghanaian "twipop" genre. Dr Cryme has also performed as a TV presenter, a brand ambassador and is CEO of Twipop Recordz.
Ameyaw Kissi Debrah, who is known professionally as Ameyaw Debrah, is a Ghanaian celebrity blogger, freelance journalist, and reporter. He founded AmeyawDebrah.com, an entertainment website and blog that primarily publishes news about Ghanaian celebrities. He graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with a bachelor's degree in publishing. While at KNUST, he won the Best Publishing Student award in 2005. He has made significant contributions to several pan-African websites, including Jamati.com, Orijin-ent.com, and ModernGhana.com.
Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., is a Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artist. He is known by his stage name Shatta Wale, formerly Bandana. His best-known singles are "Dancehall King", "My Level" and "Taking Over". He is also known for "Already" from Beyoncé's The Lion King: The Gift, which also featured Major Lazer. His song "Dancehall King" earned him the Artiste of the Year at the 2014 edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. Wale is also an actor who appeared in the films Never Say Never,The trial of Shatta Wale and Shattered Lives. Wale's 2004 recording "Moko Hoo" was nominated for a Ghana Music Award.
Livingstone Etse Satekla, better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian Afropop, Afro-dancehall and reggae musician.
Rebecca Akosua Acheampomaa Acheampong, known mononymously as Becca, is a Ghanaian singer, songwriter and actress. She first gained recognition as a contestant on the second season of TV3's annual singing competition Mentor. Her debut studio album Sugar was released in 2007; it earned her five nominations at the 2008 Ghana Music Awards, including Record of the Year for "You Lied to Me". On 16 May 2013, Becca released her second studio album Time 4 Me, which features guest appearances from 2face Idibia, MI, King Ayisoba, Trigmatic, Jay Storm and Akwaboah. The album was certified 2x platinum in Ghana.
Appiah Dankwah, popularly known as Appietus is a Ghanaian actor musician, music producer and sound engineer based in Accra, Ghana. The name Appietus gained prominence from his signature "Appietus in the mix". It was, however, coined from the phrase "Appiahs' Tools". He has been the winner of six music industry awards in the 10-year span from the start of his career. He won the Ghana Music Honours 2015 Best Music Producer and Sound Engineer award, Sun Shine Music Awards 2010 Best Sound Engineer award and the UK Ghana Music Awards, Best Sound Engineer in 2008. His remarkable work has also led him to represent the country in some international programs including WOMEX 2013 in Wales, UK, and Worldtronics in Berlin, Germany, 2012.
Peace Hyde is a British-Ghanaian television producer, TV host, creator, journalist, and education activist. She is the creator and executive producer of Netflix's first African reality TV series Young, Famous & African, as well as the Head of Digital Media and Partnership and West African correspondent at Forbes Africa. She is the founder of Aim Higher Africa, a non-profit focused on improving the quality of education in impoverished communities across Africa. In 2019, she was awarded the African Social Impact Award at the House of Parliament, House of Commons in the UK.
The Ghana Music Awards, also known since 2024 by the sponsored name Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs), formerly Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs), is an annual music awards event in Ghana established in 1999 by a local event organizer and planner company known as Charter House to originally and primarily celebrate the "outstanding contributions of Ghanaian musicians to the growth and expansion of its associated industry".
Adjei Nelson Otumfour, better known by his stage name AJ Nelson is a Ghanaian recording artist and activist. He is most famous for the singles “Same Girl,” “Faith” and “Power to the People”. He was the first Ghanaian musician to rap in Bono language. In 2015, AJ Nelson released the song titled “Power To the People” and lead a campaign in Ghana to encourage youths not only from Ghana but also from other parts of Africa to speak against the corruption and conflicts the continent is engulfed in and hold their political leaders accountable. According to AJ Nelson, the people most affected need to be empowered to voice their thoughts out to their leaders. The campaign got the attention of top Ghanaian personalities including the renowned Head of Global Parliamentary Engagement at World Bank, Mr. Kofi Tsikata and media personality Berla Mundi who both joined the campaign. In November 2015, the song was ranked the 3rd most downloaded Ghanaian Hiphop Song on iTunes. AJ Nelson was ranked the 3rd top-selling artist on iTunes in November 2015.
DopeNation is a Ghanaian musical duo of identical twin brothers, composed of Micheal Boafo popularly known as B2, and Tony Boafo known as Twist. They are best known for producing hit songs such as Kpuu Kpaa by Shatta wale, Wow by Joey B ft EL, Sebgefia by Joey B and EL, Poison by Ebony Reigns, Forever by Eazzy ft Mr Eazi, Nana Ama by Pappy Kojo, among others and chunning out hits for themselves as Artists.
Christie Quincyna Quarcoopome, known professionally as Cina Soul, is a Ghanaian singer, songwriter and performer. She was a finalist at the 2014 Vodafone Ghana Music Icons competition held in Accra, Ghana.
Anne Amuzu is a Ghanaian computer scientist and the co-founder of the technology company, Nandimobile Limited. Her company has received several awards, including best business at the 2011 LAUNCH Conference in USA.
Derrick Sarfo Kantanka,, best known as Amerado, is a Ghanaian rapper from Kumasi. He is the curator of Yeete Nsem, Ghana's first news casting rap series.
Opare Leticia, known by her stage name Gyaldem Tish, is a Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and reggae singer.
Eldah Naa Abiana Dickson better known by her stage name as Abiana is a Ghanaian singer and songwriter. She is a Soul-life, Hi-life, Neo Soul musician. Abiana was adjudged the Best Female Vocal Performance award during the 2021 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
Mona Faiz Montrage better known by her stage name as Mona 4Reall or Hajia4Reall is a Ghanaian socialite, model, musician, businesswoman and accused fraudster.