Ghana's Wiyaala To Perform at Kampnagel Germany
Kampnagel is a theatre in Hamburg, Germany. It is based on the premises of a former mechanical engineering factory in Winterhude, founded in 1865. Since 1982 it has been used as a site for cultural activities, mainly for theatre but also for dance performances. The site hosts a number of festivals such as the "Internationale Sommertheater-Festival" (international summer theater festival), the women's theatre festival "Hammoniale" and "internationales Tanzfestival" (international dance
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.
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.
This year Afrimawards has the like of Sarkodie, Edem, Dark Suburb, VVIP, Efya, and others. Noella Wiyaala is the only Ghanaian leading the nominations. No media house has made noise about it, or are they not aware of Afrima Awards.
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.
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