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Wiyaala Biography
Wiyaala, which means “the doer” in her local Sissala language, is a charismatic musician entertainer from Funsi in the Upper West Region of Ghana. An irrepressible extrovert since childhood, Wiyaala is an award winning African star who never fails to excite and inspire love. With her dancing, polyglot and engaged songs, Wiyaala performs an Africa that is both modern and traditional.
Wiyaala's music references West African Folk traditions and contemporary Afro-Pop, sometimes evoking comparisons with African stars such as 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 become one of Ghana’s leading media personalties representing Ghana and Africa at events and festivals around the world. Wiyaala has performed for Kamala Harris, vice president of the USA and at the Commonwealth Games 2018, The African Union in Addis Ababa, SummerStage 2022 in New York, WOMAD UK and many more. Wiyaala has released three albums "Wiyaala" (2014) and "Sissala Goddess" (2108) and “African Polyglot” (2024). In 2022, Wiyaala was admitted as a Voting Member of The Recording Academy (Grammies).
An articulate communicator, who designs and makes her own costumes, Wiyaala is a role model in her community where she has built a Stage, Guest House and Restaurant and Arts Centre, known as “The Lioness Kingdom” where she organises jam nights for local artists and children. Wiyaala campaigns against child marriage and in 2020, she detected and handed over to the authorities a 36 year old man attempting to abduct a young girl into a forced marriage.
ADVOCACY
Unicef Ghana
GACA - Ghana Against Child Abuse
Water Aid Ghana
Teach2Teach
Hi-Chale NGO
AWARDS & CITATIONS
BBC 100 Inspiring and Influential Women From Around The World 2024
The Global 500 Best Songs of All Time 2024
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
Read MoreWiyaala's music references West African Folk traditions and contemporary Afro-Pop, sometimes evoking comparisons with African stars such as 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 become one of Ghana’s leading media personalties representing Ghana and Africa at events and festivals around the world. Wiyaala has performed for Kamala Harris, vice president of the USA and at the Commonwealth Games 2018, The African Union in Addis Ababa, SummerStage 2022 in New York, WOMAD UK and many more. Wiyaala has released three albums "Wiyaala" (2014) and "Sissala Goddess" (2108) and “African Polyglot” (2024). In 2022, Wiyaala was admitted as a Voting Member of The Recording Academy (Grammies).
An articulate communicator, who designs and makes her own costumes, Wiyaala is a role model in her community where she has built a Stage, Guest House and Restaurant and Arts Centre, known as “The Lioness Kingdom” where she organises jam nights for local artists and children. Wiyaala campaigns against child marriage and in 2020, she detected and handed over to the authorities a 36 year old man attempting to abduct a young girl into a forced marriage.
ADVOCACY
Unicef Ghana
GACA - Ghana Against Child Abuse
Water Aid Ghana
Teach2Teach
Hi-Chale NGO
AWARDS & CITATIONS
BBC 100 Inspiring and Influential Women From Around The World 2024
The Global 500 Best Songs of All Time 2024
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
Afrofusion
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