WIYAALA ON CNN AFRICAN VOICES

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. 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. Wiyaala At a very young age, Wiyaala attracted attention as an entertainer, artist and athlete. Her Madonna/Michael Jackson inspired performances always provided much notoriety in the village. After school, she gravitated to the local music scene in Wa and was featured on local recordings as a session singer. In due course, she saved enough money to record an album of her own songs at Echo Soundz in Wa. In 2011, Wiyaala auditioned for Stars of The Future and emerged as the second runner-up. In 2012, she entered the Vodafone Icons reality show and lead her group Black n Peach to victory.

To further her musical journey, Wiyaala left Back N Peach to persue a solo career. She is now using her song writing talents to advocate for women’s rights in her native Ghana. Her love for her Ghanaian upbringing is reflected in her beautiful and powerful ballads. Her messages of positivity have made her an icon and inspiration for young Ghanaians. Her mission is on of love, peace, and celebration 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. 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. 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 and hailed as a youth icon and an inspiration for young Ghanaians to strive for success.