Ya Levis Dalwear | |
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![]() Ya Levis in Kinshasa | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Prince Nemiala |
Also known as |
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Born | Kinshasa, Zaire (modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) | 9 September 1994
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Occupations |
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Years active | 2009–present |
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Prince Nemiala (born 9 September 1994), known professionally as YaLevis Dalwear or Ya Levis, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, and dancer. Dubbed the "Ambassador of Love", [1] [2] [3] he is known for his mellow, melodic, and melancholic voice. His lyrics often explore themes of love, hatred, and hedonism. [2] [4]
Born in Kinshasa, he relocated to France at the age of five. Nemiala began his musical career in 2009 and later signed with MCP Group in April 2013. [5] [6] [7] He rose to prominence with his 2015 breakout single "Mokolo ya l'amour" from his eponymous two-track maxi-single. [8] [9] [10] In 2017, Nemiala signed a record deal with Capitol Records. [11] He gained international recognition after releasing his 2018 Congolese rumba-infused single "Katchua", which attained a gold record from SNEP and was subsequently featured in his 2019 debut studio album El Mayalove. [12] [13] [14] [15]
On 25 June 2021, Nemiala published his eight-track Extended Play (EP) LCLM:Prélude, which was supported by singles "Chocolat", "Lokesha" and "Nakati". [16] [17] On 18 March 2022, Nemiala issued LCLM, [18] [19] [20] followed by Love Machine on 1 November 2024. [21]
Ya Levis Dalwear was born Prince Nemiala on 9 September 1994, in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). He was born into a well-known musical family; His father, Nico Nemiala, was a Congolese rumba artist who worked with Papa Wemba, [5] [22] while his mother performed in a Catholic church choir. [5] [23] [24] In 1999, the family relocated to France, where Ya Levis often accompanied his father to recording studios and rehearsals. [8] [5] [23] Influenced by his father and King Kester Emeneya during his formative years, Ya Levis developed a penchant for Congolese rumba. [5] [23] Despite his mother's reservations regarding a musical career, he remained committed to music, prioritizing it over academic pursuits following his father's passing. [23] [5] [25]
Ya Levis made his musical debut in 2009 with the dance troupe Les Étoiles d'Afrique alongside his brother, Olivier Dalwear. During this time, he adopted the moniker "Ya Levis Dalwear." [6] [26] In 2012, Ya Levis departed from Les Étoiles d'Afrique to pursue a solo career. [8] [5] His preliminary solo releases, "Love-Olivia" and "Shabanni", garnered significant public attention and seized the attention of MCP Group, which subsequently signed him and produced his debut two-track maxi-single titled Mokolo ya l'amour, featuring the titular track and "Canœ kayak." [8] [9] [10] Mokolo ya l'amour was a blend of zouk and Congolese rumba, and particularly struck a chord with female audiences through its romanticized portrayal of Valentine's Day in "Canœ kayak." [6] [8] [5]
In April 2017, he made his first live television appearance with the song "On Récolte Ce Que L'on Sème" on the program Touche Pas à Mon Poste hosted by Cyril Hanouna. [6] [8] On 29 December of that year, he performed a duet with the Ivorian group Kiff No Beat on the single "Farotema". [26] On 18 May 2018, Ya Levis debuted the MCP Group-produced single "Libala," a tribute to his late mother and father. [23]
On 31 October 2018, Ya Levis released his Congolese rumba-inspired single "Katchua," which was co-produced by Mike Dallas and Chris Hamiwest through MCP Group. [27] [28] [26] Sung in French and Lingala, the song's music video portrays Ya Levis' profound emotional bond and love for his partner despite any adversities they may face. [29] "Katchua" quickly achieved international acclaim, amassing over 14 million YouTube views within eight months. [29] [26] The song's success significantly boosted Ya Levis' visibility, leading to performances across major African and European cities, including a notable performance at Chez Papillon in Paris and as the opening act for Flavor's Paris concert for Trace Live. [26] [30] [6] "Katchua" earned him a nomination for Best Male Artist in Central Africa at the All Africa Music Awards, [31] along with four consecutive nominations at the African Muzik Magazine Awards for Song of the Year, Best Male Central Africa, Best Newcomer, and Best Francophone. [32] [33] The song was certified gold by SNEP in May 2023. [12] [15] [34]
On 28 June 2019, Ya Levis unveiled his debut studio album, El Mayalove. [35] [36] [37] [38] Released by MCP Group, the album comprises 14 tracks, including his previous hit "Katchua", [39] [40] and blends Congolese rumba, pop, and kizomba. [39] It features guest appearances by SAYS'Z on "Poizon," Diamond Platnumz on "Penzi," and Chris Hamiwest on the bonus track "Alyah". [40] Ya Levis promoted El Mayalove with a performance at the 4th edition of the Red One Festival at Institut Français in Kinshasa on 13 July, [26] [41] followed by a show at the Intare Conference Arena in Kigali on 28 July. [42] In 2020, he played to a full house at Eventhallen in Oslo. [43]
Ya Levis began recording his Extended Play (EP) LCLM: Prélude in mid-2020. LCLM is an abbreviation for L'amour Change Le Monde, which translates to "Love changes the world". [44] On 16 October 2020, he debuted "Lokesha", the first extract from LCLM: Prélude, followed by "Nakati" on 18 December. [45] [46] [47] In February 2021, Ya Levis teamed up with Congolese-French rapper Franglish in Paris to record a single, which came out on 29 January. [48] [49] [47] The next month, he guest-performed on Haitian singer Joe Dwèt Filé's single "Bien plus fort". [50] [51] The song "Love" premiered on 13 May. During that same month, Ya Levis sought a collaboration with Congolese rumba singer Cindy Le Coeur for LCLM: Prélude. [52] [53] The EP was officially published on 25 June. [54] [55] [56] It consisted of eight tracks with a predominant blend of Congolese rumba and R&B, with guest appearances by Franglish, Ronisia, S.Pri Noir, and Leto. [56] [57] He supported LCLM: Prélude with a gig in Montpellier in August 2021, [58] then held a sold-out concert at the Machine du Moulin Rouge in Paris [59] and a Valentine's Day event at Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana, produced by Wali Évent. [60] [61]
Ya Levis commenced work on his second studio album, L'amour change le monde, acronymed as LCLM, in late 2021. In November 2021, he signed a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment France for the release of L'amour change le monde. [62] [63] He released the promotional single "Pardonne-moi" on 17 December, which blended Congolese rumba, R&B and Afro dance influences. [64] The single "Es-tu prête" debuted on 4 February 2022. [65] [66] [67] L'amour change le monde was officially released on 18 March 2022. [68] The album was produced by MCP Group and co-distributed by Sony Music Entertainment France and Because Editions. [69] It was a sequel to LCLM: Prélude, with 18 additional tracks appended to the original list. [68] It includes collaborations with Yxng Bane, Jok'Air, Zaho, Alonzo, and Koffi Olomidé. [68] The album's breakout single "Pardonne-moi" achieved commercial success, earning him two consecutive nominations at All Africa Music Awards for Best Artist in African R&B/Soul and Best African Male Act in Diaspora. [70] To support L'amour change le monde, Ya Levis sold out La Cigale on 28 May. [71] [72] [59]
Three months after dropping his breakthrough single "Takala", which gained major traction across social media platforms, Ya Levis premiered the remix on 5 May 2023. [73] In October 2023, Ya Levis received a nomination for Best Artist of Central Africa at Primud d'Or. [74] On 30-31 March 2024, he held a two-day concert at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi for the Raha Festival, [75] [76] [77] after which he featured on Gaz Mawete's track "K.O" from his self-titled EP, which went viral on TikTok. [78] [79] He then took the stage at the Ganda Vibes Experience with Ya Levis event at Kampala Serena Hotel's Victoria Hall, organized by House of DJs and Fenon Events. [80] [81] [82]
Ya Levis' third studio album, Love Machine, was initially conceptualized as an EP and was released on 20 September 2024 with a six-song tracklist, including singles like "Lifobo", "Nigani", "Ne doute pas", "Sugar Daddy", "Come with Me", and "Magie", with guest appearances by Teni and Sidiki Diabaté. [83] On 1 November, he expanded the project into a full-length album, adding six new tracks, including one featuring Ghanaian singer King Promise, bringing the total to 12. [84] The album was co-produced by Back 2 Bellum and Dalwear Music and distributed by Play Two, a subsidiary of the TF1 Group. [84] Blending contemporary R&B with Congolese rumba, Love Machine received praise from Djolo magazine critic Aodren, who described it as exuding "tender vibrations". [84] To support Love Machine, he performed at La Madeleine in Brussels on 16 November and later at Raha Rave in Nairobi on 28 December. [83] [85] On 13 February 2025, he dropped the single "Katalay", described as a "celebration of love, desire, and passion", which gained widespread attention. [85]
Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
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2019 | All Africa Music Awards | Best Male Artist in Central Africa | Himself | Nominated | [31] |
2019 | African Muzik Magazine Awards | Song of the Year | "Katchua" | Nominated | [32] [33] |
2019 | African Muzik Magazine Awards | Best Male Central Africa | Himself | Nominated | [32] [33] |
2019 | African Muzik Magazine Awards | Best Newcomer | Himself | Nominated | [32] [33] |
2019 | African Muzik Magazine Awards | Best Francophone | Himself | Nominated | [32] [33] |
2022 | All Africa Music Awards | Best Artist in African R&B/Soul | Himself | Nominated | [70] |
2022 | All Africa Music Awards | Best African Male Act in Diaspora | Himself | Nominated | [70] |
2023 | Primud d'Or | Best Artist of Central Africa | Himself | Nominated | [74] |