WOMAN CRUSH WEDNESDAY: Noella "Wiyaala" Wiyaala

Wiyaala

Noella Wiyaala known by her stage name Wiyaala was born on the 22nd of December, 1986. She is a Ghanaian Afro-pop singer-songwriter who sings in her native language Sissala and Waala dialects and English, often combining all three languages within her songs.

Wiyaala, which means “the doer” in her local Sissala dialect, is an independent musician, Singer-songwriter, designer, actress, model and athlete from Funsi in the Upper West Region of Ghana. She is a graduate from Takoradi Polytechnic where she studied art and design. With her dancing, polyglot and engaged songs, Wiyaala style is both modern and rural.

The second of four sisters and thanks to her musical mother from whom she got first singing lessons from, 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.      

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. 

 In her third attempt at Stars of the Future reality show in 2011, she earned her way into the finals, winning two Golden Moments awards. In 2012, she won the Vodafone Icons Reality Show Mixed Edition as part of the Ghanaian band Black N Peach. After making her name in reality shows in Accra, She left the Black N Peach band in 2013, after having released one single Wonkoa, to pursue a solo career with Djimba World Records. Her first release was Make Me Dance followed by a hit single "Rock My Body", which won her two awards at the 2014 first edition of the All-Africa Music Awards, the Most Promising Artiste in Africa and Revelation of The African Continent where she won two of the coveted 23.9-carat gold-plated trophies. 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 1970's with her 2014 FIFA World Cup Song Go Go Black Stars.  She has released two albums "Wiyaala" (2014) and "Sissala Goddess" (2018) with a third Yaga Yaga (2022). Wiyaala is also a member of the international female group GRRRL. GRRRL is converged by ‘In Place of War’, a global organisation that supports artistic creativity in places of conflict as a tool for positive change.  

Noella made her TV acting debut in late 2013 in the Viasat 1 hit comedy series MultiKoloured.

In 2016, Wiyaala made her movie debut in the Ghanaian feature film No Man’s Land. and for which she has been nominated as the Golden Discovery 2016 at the Golden Movie Awards.

Wiyaala designs and sews her unique stage costumes where she gained recognition for her style by winning the Best Individual Style Award at the Glitz 2015 Style Awards.

She has also been recognised for her sense of fashion, stage dressing and style, Wiyaala is influential throughout the world with Hong Kong's South China Morning Post citing her as a role model in 2018.

Wiyaala has officially joined  GRAMMYS 2022 New Member Class this year.

She has made her intentions clear to recruit, groom, and sponsor young talents from Funsi as she vigorously promotes her African roots in Funsi with a mission 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. 

 

Some of her popular hit songs include Make Me Dance (2013), Rock My Body  ft Jupitar (2013), Go Go Black Stars (2014), Africa (2014), Leno (2016), Feeling Free (2019), The Captain's Lament – A Wiyaala Song (2021),  Wiyaala - Yaga Yaga (Plenty Plenty) (2021), Coming With Fire (2022)

She cited Madonna, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner as role models and inspiration.

 ADVOCACY

Unicef Ghana

GACA - Ghana Against Child Abuse

Water Aid Ghana

Teach2Teach

Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection

 

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 - Womens 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 Individulal Style - Glitz Fashion Awards 2015

Most Promising Artiste in Africa - All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2014

Revelation of the African Continent - All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2014

Member of GRAMMYS Academy Class 2022

Sources: wiyaala.com & wikipedia