Ghanaian Afro-pop singer-songwriter, Noella Wiyaala, popularly known as Wiyaala has expressed joy as she has been invited by The Recording Academy/Grammys to be a member.
The Tuma hitmaker took to her Facebook page to express her innermost feelings to her fans after receiving the message.
Wiyaala is one of the great musicians who will do everything within her power to make sure Ghana is being put on the global map with her style of music through her local dialect Waala, Sissala and English often combine the three in her music to bring sweet super vocal melody.
Wiyaala, which means “the doer” in her local Sissala dialect, is an independent musician entertainer from Funsi in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
With her dancing, polyglot and engaged songs, Wiyaala sings an Africa that is both modern and rural.
Wiyaala’s music references West African Folk traditions and contemporary Afro-Pop, sometimes evoking comparisons with African divas Mariam Makeeba, Brenda Fassie and Angelique Kidjo.
The second of four sisters and thanks to her musical mother, Wiyaala was spared the horrors of FGM and child marriage whilst attracting attention as a child entertainer, dancer, artist and footballer despite growing up in a patriarchal society often hostile to artistic growth.
In 2012, she travelled to the capital city Accra and won the Vodafone Icons Reality Show. Since being discovered by Rita Ray of BBC’s Global Beats in 2014, Wiyaala has emerged as one of Ghana’s leading personalities and international touring artists representing Ghana Africa at prestigious events, media and festivals all over the world, including the Commonwealth Games 2018 in Australia, The African Union in Addis Ababa, WOMAD UK, Green Man, Kendal Calling, Shambala and the Timitar Festival in Morocco. In 2014 Wiyaala was the first Ghanaian artist to chart on Billboard since Osibisa in the 1970s with her 2014 FIFA World Cup Song “Go Go Black Stars”. She has released two albums “Wiyaala” (2014) and “Sissala Goddess” (2108) with a third “Yaga Yaga” due in 2022. Wiyaala is also a member of the international female group GRRRL.
Wiyaala designs and sews her unique stage costumes and vigorously promotes her African roots in Funsi where her mission is to attract foreign visitors to an environment where they can experience authentic African life and culture. Visitors to Funsi include international travel blogger Drew Binsky, Thomas Naadi of BBC Africa, Deutsche Welle (DW) News and TV3 Ghana. To further her aims, Wiyaala has built an Arts Centre, Guest House and Restaurant where she frequently holds festivals and events encouraging the local children to develop their creativity and sense of self-worth.
ADVOCACY
Unicef Ghana
GACA – Ghana Against Child Abuse
Water Aid Ghana
Teach2Teach
AWARDS & CITATIONS
Laureate of The Cité Internationale Des Arts 2021 – Institut Francais Paris France
Alternative Song of the Year – Ghana Music Awards 2021
Best Ghanaian Cultural Act – Ghana Music Awards UK 2021
Woman of the Decade – Women’s Choice Awards Africa 2020
Artiste of the Year – Ghana Arts & Culture Awards 2019
International Touring Artiste of the Year – Ghana Music Awards UK 2019
BBC’s Celebrated African Women 2018 – BBC News
Young and Gifted – Ghana Women of the Year 2017
Discovery of the Year – Golden Movie Awards 2016
Music Video of the Year – All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2015
Songwriter of the Year – Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) 2015
Best Female Vocal Performance – Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) 2015
Best Individual Style – Glitz Fashion Awards 2015
Most Promising Artiste in Africa – All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2014
The revelation of the African Continent – All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2014
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