On celebrity profile today, we go after Noella Wiyaala, the Sissala goddess and African Lioness who has been trailblazing with her craft, energy and African originality. Her name Wiyaala means “The Doer”.
Born on December 22, 1986, Noella Wiyaala is from Funsi in the Upper West region of Ghana. She begun her professional music career in 2013 after participating in the Vodafone Icons reality show in 2012 which she won. She was discovered by BBC News’ Rita Ray in 2012 and has become one of Ghana’s best touring artist.
The Sissala goddess as she is called, is the second of four daughters and as a child, performed at her mother’s pito spot in Wa, the Upper West Regional capital. She showed her talent in dancing and singing while performing to the guests at the pito joint. She schooled at Kanton Senior High School in Tumu.
While at school, Wiyaala played football and was usually engaged in the school entertainment activities as a dancer and singer. She has furthered her education by schooling at the Takoradi Polytechnic (now Takoradi Technical University).
She is married and according to her she said only four people were at her wedding and those four were her parents, a lawyer and judge.
Her hit single Rock My Body which featured one of Ghana’s top reggae-dancehall artists Jupitar. Rock My Body received wide public acclaim but Wiyaala opted to pursue a different direction of music, one that is not very popular the ordinary Ghanaian music lovers. That direction has, however, got her to the top and soared her fame beyond the borders of Ghana.
Music and Discography
Wiyaala since the release of Rock My Body has gone on to work on several hit songs and has earned numerous recognitions both in and outside of Ghana. Though Rock My Body won her many admirers, the rest of her songs do not tow that lane. She does afro pop, pop and dance songs.
In her music videos, Wiyaala often uses multiple languages including Sissali her father’s tongue, Dagaare, her mother’s tongue, Waali which is the language of Wa the town she was born in and then English which is Ghana’s official language. She portrays her tradition and in her musical videos and often tries to use her songs to teach about life lessons.
Though Wiyaala became known in Ghana in 2012 and more in 2013, she had already been doing music in the Upper West Region where she was a household name with her hit songs “Dirik” and “Dannu”. Both songs were part of her “Tuma” album which was recorded at the Echo Sounds Studio in Wa.
Before her successful audition in the Vodafone Icons, she had made three prior attempts at Stars of the Future and failed. She, however, succeeded on her fourth audition attempt which was the Vodafone Icons Mixed Edition, resilience. She joined the Black N Peach singing band and the band released “Wonkoa” together. Wiyaala soon quit the band in April 2013 to focus on her solo career and released “Make Me Dance” which was followed by “Rock My Body”. The video for Make Me Dance featured underground water scenes.
She has gone on to make several hit songs including Wiisi, Leno, Kandibanye, Tuma, Tinambanyi, The Captain’s Lament, Africa and Idunne. She has released three other albums Wiyaala, Sissala Goddess and Yaga Yaga apart from the Tuma album she did in 2009.
Wiyaala who is one of Ghana’s most internationally touring artist has performed at several big events including Commonwealth Games 2018 in Australia, The African Union in Addis Ababa, WOMAD UK, Green Man, Kendal Calling, Shambala and the Timitar Festival in Morocco.
The Sissala goddess is well known for his cultural and traditional-inspired form of music and also he energetic dancing style.
Awards and Recognitions
Wiyaala has won a number of awards both in Ghana and outside Ghana. Some of her awards include the Laureate of The Cité Internationale Des Arts 2021 – Institut Francais Paris France, Best Ghanaian Cultural Act – Ghana Music Awards UK 2021, Alternative Song of the Year – Ghana Music Awards 2021, Woman of the Decade – Womens Choice Awards Africa 2020 and International Touring Artiste of the Year – Ghana Music Awards UK 2019.
Some include the Artiste of the Year – Ghana Arts & Culture Awards 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, Songwriter of the Year – Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) 2015, Best Female Vocal Performance – Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) 2015 and Best Individulal Style – Glitz Fashion Awards 2015.
The rest are Music Video of the Year – All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2015, Revelation of the African Continent – All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2014 and Most Promising Artiste in Africa – All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2014.
In an interview on Talkertertainment on GhanaWeb TV, Wiyaala noted that she is popular in Ghana contrary to popular opinion that she is not so popular in Ghana. She said she does not make the news in Ghana like others do because of her style of music and because she does not involve in beefing with other artists. She added that not also pay for hype so that is probably why she does not make the news.
According to her, she departed from the Rock My Body style of music because she is looking beyond the present and wants to do songs that even the elderly will appreciate. She wants to do songs that can teach about her culture and that is why she departed from the Rock My Body style.
Admitting that it is difficult for musicians to breakthrough but the male musicians use the “men don’t cry” style to push through, an attitude she has adopted. She said for female musicians to breakthrough they need to stop depending and focus on their talent, learn things for themselves and try to sell their talent without the sex scenes in order to create value for themselves.
Advocay and Projects
Wiyaala has been active in most campaigns that are geared towards improving society. She has partnered with Unicef Ghana, GACA – Ghana Against Child Abuse, Water Aid Ghana and Teach2Teach for various advocacy responsibilities.
The African Lioness is building an art and entertainment centre in her home town of Funsi where she believes will help unearth the talent of many of the young people in the community who are interested in dancing.
Wiyaala also owns her own studio where she does some of the beats herself. She also said she can now edit her own music videos as part of her efforts to not be dependent on people always.
Body shaming
Wiyaala said growing up she faced mockery for her masculine appearance but her mother encouraged her to ignore them. She learned to live with and has now grown beyond them. She said she didn’t face much of it in the industry but whenever she did face any she doesn’t feel anything.
She added that her music career has grown and she still learning and trying to do more as the days goes by. Though her latest album, Yaga Yaga is something she said the youth will love, she has made the beat to target the international market.
According to her, her style of music is made to last, adding that artists such as King Ayisoba, Osibisa, Atongo Zimba and Angelique Kidjo are not much celebrated at home but have strong international presence.
Her favourites in Ghana are King Ayisoba and Osibisa.
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