I remember her days in Stars of the Future when I followed her performances and powerful voice. I knew she had a different sound to offer to Africans and the world. Music and art in relation to our African culture should appear with some uniqueness and sound
Noella Wiyaala is one typical singer/songwriter and live performer that you can identify such traits with. She sings both in English and her native birth tongue, Sisalla.
Wiyaala’s music resonate the authentic African sound from voice to instrumentations. Her music style is a variety of Afro-pop and Afro-rock with rudiments of folk music.
She is an inspired act of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner. But admires the works and achievements of Brenda Fassie, Miriam Makeba and her song “Africa” was inspired by Sherifa Gunu.
She is a graduate student of Art and Designs from the Takoradi Polytechnic.
Born in WA, the Upper West Region of Ghana and raised in Tumu with her three other sisters. She was fortunate to get her first musical lessons from her mum at the age of 5years.
Wiyaala with her awards
Ever since she kept the spirit and passion to do music like the meaning to her surname/stage name “Wiyaala” which means “The Doer”. She kept doing what she aspired and loved and till date she keeps attaining greater heights in her career
After Stars of the Future she auditioned and contested in the 2012 Vodafone Icons and won with the Black And Peach Band but left the group in 2013 to pursue her solo career with Djimba World Records.
She is the proud brand ambassador for Pepsi Cola in West Africa in promoting Pepsi throughout Ghana. She is also the Converse All Stars ambassador.
She has recently earned a record deal with Rob Bierings’ Amsterdam-based Hippo Records.
Just as Osibisa, Afro-Moses and King Ayisoba exported Ghanaian music with folk sound, I believe Noella Wiyaala will earn that mark soon considering the rate and drive of her skill.
By Samuel Omane-Mensah/GhanaGist.com