Wilhelmina Abu Andani yesterday, May 20, admonished Noella Wiyala to put in much effort to impress Ghanaians in order to be part of the VGMA Awards scheme.
Noella Wiyala, Afro Pop Singer-songwriter who records most of her music in her native sissala and waala dialects mentioned in an interview on “The North” Podcast with Prince Hamdan Banang, that, the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards is Accra based and doesn’t favor artistes based in the North.
She further stated that she isn’t against VGMA but she was stating reality that the Awards Scheme allegedly disqualifies languages that are yet to pick up in the southern part of Ghana no matter how popular the artiste is.
“I’m not against VGMA. But reality must set in. It doesn’t matter how much you push. There are just certain languages that are yet to pick up in the south. And per their rules and regulations we those up here we don’t qualify.”
This comment generated conversations and engagement in the creative art industry and has ganered lots of discourse as well in the media.
Wilhelmina Abu Andani, CEO of Golden Movie Awards Africa, fondly know in the industry as Mimi, in an interview with Nana Ama Mcbrown on her Onua Showtime disproved the Northern based Artiste’s allegation as she suggested the Artiste works harder outside as compared to Ghana which excludes her from the prestigious awards scheme.
“I know wiyala she works alot but I think she works more outside than she works here. Why do want to be part of an wards scheme that you are not working hard to impress them.”she said.
She praised the Artiste’s hard work but totally disagreed with her allegations on the Awards scheme being Accra based and sidelining the northern language as she cited Fancy Gadam and Ghanaian Highlife music penetrating the Nigerian market as evidences to butters her argument.
She called on the artist to discard the argument of Language barrier and put in more work as VGMA won’t nominate her based on inclusion tactics even if the song isn’t popular.
“VGMA has their qualifications, things they look out for before they nominate you. The fact that you are singing in another language and they want inclusion they add them. If we don’t add these people it will seem it’s just Accra. If the person doesn’t qualify you can’t add the person just to make the event inclusive. Language is no barrier when it comes to music.” She opined
She said Wiyala should work hard in solidifying her career here in Ghana and she should work extensively with the DJ’s and Promoters so her songs can get the popularity it gets overseas.
She advised the Go Black Star hit maker to spread her tentacles and build a strong fanbase as they and the academy decide who wins.
” It’s the people who decide so if you don’t spread your tentacles well and you don’t make your fanbase strong, you won’t enter. Even if you come in it won’t work because of your fanbase
It’s all about the fanbase. Your work will put you in the nomination but your fans will determine the winners. You need the fans too and the jury.”