#WomanRising - Noella Wiyaala
Noella Wiyaala (known under the stage name Wiyaala) is a Ghanaian singer-songwriter. Well known for her single "Make Me Dance". and her androgynous image.
Noella Wiyaala was born in Wa, Upper West Ghana as one of four sisters and raised in Tumu. She got first singing lessons from her mother, a choir singer, and she has performed ever since she was 5 years old.[7] Her surname, which she picked for a stage name, means "the doer" in her native Sisaala language. During her late teenage years she played football as a midfielder. She has attended Takoradi Polytechnic on an art and design course.
“This Is Who I Am”, described by the Moroccan star as “AfroBian” in style, is a fusion of both Afro and Arabian rhythms and features four languages, English, French, Arabic and Wiyaala’s own Sissala dialect.
Asked why he had chosen Wiyaala for the collaboration, Ahmed said: “We met at AFRIMA 2014 and I heard Wiyaala’s voice; she gave me her album “Wiyaala”, and I discovered a universe”. He added:
“I’m saying, let's visit Ghana. Ghanaians, you come and visit us and every country of Africa. We need to know each other better. We hope you will enjoy Afrobian music and be curious to find out more.
She has appeared singing "Dannu" in the Sisaala language on the album "Tuma", recorded in 2009 while residing in Wa, Upper West Ghana.
In 2011 she auditioned for Ghana’s own "Stars of the Future" and earned her way into the finals, winning two Golden Moments awards. Won the 2012 Vodafone ICONS Mixed Edition contest hosted by fellow Ghanaian DJ "Benny Blanco", as part of the Ghanaian band Black N Peach, while singing Tina Turner's "Simply The Best".
She left the Black N Peach band during April 2013 to pursue a solo career with Djimba World Records.
Wiyaala is a brand ambassador for PepsiCo in West Africa, alongside Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage, promoting Pepsi throughout Ghana as the brand looks to grab a larger share of the soft drinks market.She is also the Converse All Stars ambassador for Ghana since 2014.
Wiyaala is known to criticize 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. Her song "Tinambayai" in Sisaala language has been regarded as a protest against the exploitation of women in Africa. She has expressed sympathy for feminism as a mean to encourage young girls into completing their education so that they themselves can be the ones that make the choices in their lives and also declared her success would serve as an example to her community that there was a future for young women beyond an early forced marriage. "Make Me Dance" has been included in the top of feminist songs for the 2013 winter by Bitch feminist magazine.
Wiyaala sings both in English and her native Sisaala. She writes her songs herself. She has earned praise for her bold an powerful voice and distinguished timbre. Given Madonna, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner as role models and inspiration. She had often been called "man-woman" by the boys in grade school and nowadays she cultivates an androgynous image of herself, for which she had been compared to Grace Jones. Also she has expressed admiration for African artists like Angelique Kidjo, Miriam Makeba and Brenda Fassie. Her song "Africa" has been inspired by Sherifa Gunu.
Her music style has been described as Afro-pop[ or Afro-rock with elements of tribal folk music while the latest single "Rock My Body", released in June 2013 together with Ghanaian reggae singer Jupitar leans more towards reggae and dancehall. Wiyaala cited as an inspiration the 1969 song "Wreck A Buddy" by Nora Dean and The Soul Sisters.[21] She did also perform in the opening of the 2014 Stanbic Ghana jazz festival.
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. The same song had been picked up as the unofficial hymn of the national football team of Ghana for the 2014 World Cup.
Wiyaala got nominated as Best Sporting Artist in Ghana Sports Excellence Awards 2014.
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. 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.
"Make Me Dance" got released also in remixed form in Nu-disco, Breakbeat, Drum and bass and Trance styles on 9 December 2013. The "Make Me Dance" Remix EP was mastered in the Paris-based La Source Mastering Studio and released worldwide through Djimba World Records. 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.
On 28 February 2014, Wiyaala released a new single, "You Got The Power", again distributed on the Djimba World Records label.The single is also available on iTunes.
Her her self-titled album, "Wiyaala", 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. She also released her song "Angel" in early December 2014 during Viasat 1's The One Show.
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 Artist in Africa" and "The Revelation of the African Continent". She has been commended by Vodafone for her achievements[41] and hailed as a youth icon and an inspiration for young Ghanaians to strive for success.
Wiyaala made her TV acting debut in late 2013 in the Viasat 1 hit comedy series MultiKoloured. Wiyaala got nominated "Female Personality of the Year" at the 2014 Ghana's Fashion Icon Awards, with a dress sketched and designed by herself.[43][44] She designs her own stage dresses and jewellery[8] to showcase the culture of the people from her home region.
Noella Wiyaala was born in Wa, Upper West Ghana as one of four sisters and raised in Tumu. She got first singing lessons from her mother, a choir singer, and she has performed ever since she was 5 years old.[7] Her surname, which she picked for a stage name, means "the doer" in her native Sisaala language. During her late teenage years she played football as a midfielder. She has attended Takoradi Polytechnic on an art and design course.
New Track: Wiyaala & Ahmed Soultan in “This Is Who I Am” “This Is
Who I Am” is the first single from Ahmed’s upcoming album MHNB
(Music Has No Boundaries), which will be released at the end of May and
features collaborations with world famous musicians Femi Kuti, George
Clinton, Fred Wesley, Akala and Tekitha.
Ahmed Soultan who won Best Artist North Africa at the All Africa Music Awards is a multiple award winner with credits that include wins at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards for MTV Best Artiste North Africa & Middle East, MTV Best Africa/Middle East/India and MTV Best Worldwide Act for which he received a nomination.
Ahmed Soultan who won Best Artist North Africa at the All Africa Music Awards is a multiple award winner with credits that include wins at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards for MTV Best Artiste North Africa & Middle East, MTV Best Africa/Middle East/India and MTV Best Worldwide Act for which he received a nomination.
“This Is Who I Am”, described by the Moroccan star as “AfroBian” in style, is a fusion of both Afro and Arabian rhythms and features four languages, English, French, Arabic and Wiyaala’s own Sissala dialect.
Asked why he had chosen Wiyaala for the collaboration, Ahmed said: “We met at AFRIMA 2014 and I heard Wiyaala’s voice; she gave me her album “Wiyaala”, and I discovered a universe”. He added:
“I’m saying, let's visit Ghana. Ghanaians, you come and visit us and every country of Africa. We need to know each other better. We hope you will enjoy Afrobian music and be curious to find out more.
She has appeared singing "Dannu" in the Sisaala language on the album "Tuma", recorded in 2009 while residing in Wa, Upper West Ghana.
In 2011 she auditioned for Ghana’s own "Stars of the Future" and earned her way into the finals, winning two Golden Moments awards. Won the 2012 Vodafone ICONS Mixed Edition contest hosted by fellow Ghanaian DJ "Benny Blanco", as part of the Ghanaian band Black N Peach, while singing Tina Turner's "Simply The Best".
She left the Black N Peach band during April 2013 to pursue a solo career with Djimba World Records.
Wiyaala is known to criticize 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. Her song "Tinambayai" in Sisaala language has been regarded as a protest against the exploitation of women in Africa. She has expressed sympathy for feminism as a mean to encourage young girls into completing their education so that they themselves can be the ones that make the choices in their lives and also declared her success would serve as an example to her community that there was a future for young women beyond an early forced marriage. "Make Me Dance" has been included in the top of feminist songs for the 2013 winter by Bitch feminist magazine.
Her music style has been described as Afro-pop[ or Afro-rock with elements of tribal folk music while the latest single "Rock My Body", released in June 2013 together with Ghanaian reggae singer Jupitar leans more towards reggae and dancehall. Wiyaala cited as an inspiration the 1969 song "Wreck A Buddy" by Nora Dean and The Soul Sisters.[21] She did also perform in the opening of the 2014 Stanbic Ghana jazz festival.
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. The same song had been picked up as the unofficial hymn of the national football team of Ghana for the 2014 World Cup.
Wiyaala got nominated as Best Sporting Artist in Ghana Sports Excellence Awards 2014.
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.
"Make Me Dance" got released also in remixed form in Nu-disco, Breakbeat, Drum and bass and Trance styles on 9 December 2013. The "Make Me Dance" Remix EP was mastered in the Paris-based La Source Mastering Studio and released worldwide through Djimba World Records. 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.
On 28 February 2014, Wiyaala released a new single, "You Got The Power", again distributed on the Djimba World Records label.The single is also available on iTunes.
Her her self-titled album, "Wiyaala", 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. She also released her song "Angel" in early December 2014 during Viasat 1's The One Show.
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 Artist in Africa" and "The Revelation of the African Continent". She has been commended by Vodafone for her achievements[41] and hailed as a youth icon and an inspiration for young Ghanaians to strive for success.
| Year | Organisation | Award | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 4syte Music Video Awards | Best Discovery | Make Me Dance | Nominated[46] |
| 4syte Music Video Awards | Best Reggae/Dancehall | Rock My Body | Nominated[9] | |
| 2014 | Bass Awards | Music Video of the Year (Dancehall) | Rock My Body | Nominated[47] |
| Bass Awards | Best Collaboration (Dancehall) | Rock My Body | Nominated[47] | |
| Bass Awards | Best Female Vocal Artist | Rock My Body | Nominated[47] | |
| All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) | Best Female Artiste in West Africa | Rock My Body | Nominated[48] | |
| All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) | Most Promising Artiste in Africa | Rock My Body | Won[17] | |
| All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) | Best African Reggae, Ragga and Dancehall | Rock My Body | Nominated[48] | |
| All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) | Revelation of the African Continent | Rock My Body | Won[17] | |
| National Youth Authority Ghana | Youth Achievers Award | N/A | Won[17] | |
| Sissala Prestige Awards | Female Personality of the Year | N/A | Won[17] | |
| Radio Progress Upper West Music Awards | Music Ambassador for the Upper West | N/A | Won[17] | |
| GH One TV ShowBiz Honours | Revelation of 2014 | N/A | Won[17] | |
| 2015 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Best Female Vocal Performance | Tinambaynyi | Won[49] |
| Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | New Artiste of The Year | N/A | Nominated[50] | |
| Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Album of The Year | Wiyaala | Nominated[50] | |
| Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Songwriter of The Year | N/A | Won[51] | |
| Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Record of The Year | Tinambaynyi | Nominated[50] | |
| Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Afro-Pop Song of The Year | Tinambaynyi | Nominated[50] |
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