Efya

Jane Fara Fauzzier Afia Boafowaa Yahaya Awindor (born April 10, 1987), better known as Efya, is a Ghanaian singer, songwriter, and actress from Kumasi. She is the daughter of Nana Adwoa Awindor, a filmmaker and celebrity host of the television show ''Greetings From Abroad''. Efya rose to fame after participating in the first edition of ''Stars of the Future''. Beginning in 2011, she won four consecutive Ghana Music Awards for Best Female Vocal Performance. Moreover, she was applauded for her performance at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.

Her debut mixtape '' T.I.N.T'', which was released on November 11, 2013, includes songs from 2011 to 2013. The mixtape was supported by the singles "Getaway" and "Best In Me". Efya released her long-awaited debut studio album, ''Janesis'', on April 22, 2016. It was previously scheduled for release at different times between 2013 and 2015. On January 11, 2014, Efya released "Forgetting Me" as the album's lead single. On May 8, 2016, she was announced as one of the newly signed acts to Wizkid's Starboy Entertainment. The announcement came following Wizkid's performance at the Ghana Music Awards. In March 2021, 3Music Network included Efya on its list of the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music.

Life and music career

1987–2008: Early life, career beginnings, and ''Unveiled''

Jane Fara Fauzzier Afia Boafowaa Yahaya Awindor was born on April 10, 1987, in Kumasi, Ghana. She has two brothers and a sister. Efya obtained her secondary education from Yaa Asantewaa Secondary School, and relocated to Accra when her mother enrolled at the National Film and Television Institute. Efya received voice training from some of her family members at a very young age. She graduated with a degree in theatre and music from the University of Ghana. In 2008, she gained fame after becoming the first runner up in the first edition of Charterhouse's ''Stars of the Future'' television show. She lost to Irene Logan but secured a three-year recording contract, which enabled her and Irene to record the collaborative album ''Unveiled''.

After her contract with Charterhouse ended, Efya kept recording music and performing live. She changed her stage name from Miss Jane to Efya prior to going solo. In an interview with ModernGhana, Efya said, "When I decided to go solo, it made sense at the time to reinvent myself in every way, I wanted a name that was African and unique but at the same time relevant to me in some way. My manager, Jimmi, helped me come up with the name Efya".

2011–present: ''T.I.N.T.'', ''Janesis'', clothing line and other releases

In 2011, Efya signed a recording deal with One Nation Entertainment. Her debut mixtape '' T.I.N.T'', which is an acronym for ''This Is Not The Album'', comprises thirteen tracks and was released for free digital download on November 12, 2013. It was supported by the singles "Getaway" and "Best in Me". ''T.I.N.T'' is composed of songs that were released between 2011 and 2013. In an interview with ''ARISE'' magazine, Efya said love is the overall theme of the mixtape and that the record is about "the good, the bad, the ugly, the heartbreak, the pains, the highs, and lows of life". The mixtape's lead single, "Getaway", was released on November 10, 2011. The music video for the song was filmed in Accra by Sony Addo. The mixtape's second single, "Best in Me", was released on February 14, 2012. The song's music video was directed by Big OJ Films and uploaded to YouTube in September 2013. On February 14, 2013, Efya released "Body", a cover of Chris Brown's single " Don't Judge Me".

Efya's debut studio album, ''Janesis'', was released on April 22, 2016. It was initially slated for release in the third quarter of 2013, but ended up being postponed. In an interview with Alexis Stephens of ''MTV Iggy'' in 2013, Efya said the album contains numerous love songs and explores the universal topics of hate and pain. She also said the record draws from her personal experiences. "Forgetting Me" was released on January 11, 2014, as the album's lead single. The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Prince Dovlo of Seven Streets Entertainment. A writer for ModernGhana described "Forgetting Me" as a "powerful ballad that tells the story of love and heartbreak". The Bisa Kdei-assisted track "One of Your Own" was released on July 16, 2014, as the album's second single. Efya initially wanted to release "Gingam Too Much" as the second single but after discussions with her team, she decided to postpone its release. The Kaywa-produced track "Gingam Too Much" was eventually released on December 26, 2014, as the album's third single.

Wizkid released the single "Daddy Yo", which features uncredited vocals by Efya. On June 10, 2017, she released the reggae-infused track "Until the Dawn", which was produced by Maleek Berry. Efya launched the clothing line The Native Chic in December 2019. She featured Tiwa Savage on her single "The One", which was released in June 2020.

Notable performances

On April 9, 2011, Efya performed at the 2011 Ghana Music Awards, which occurred at the Dome in Accra. In October 2012, she shared the stage with Kojo Antwi, Asem, Ruff & Smooth, D3, No Tribe, and Stonebwoy at the Radio and Television Personality Awards. In April 2013, Efya performed at a Capital 98.4 FM music event, which was sponsored by Tusker Brewery and held at Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi. On February 14, 2013, Efya took part in Richie Mensah's "This is Love" musical performance at the African Regent Hotel. She performed her single "Your Body", which was released on the same day, along with the remix of her "Best in Me" song with Mensah.

At the Hope City Launch Celebration Concert on March 5, 2013, which featured American artist Chris Brown as the main act, Efya joined Samini, D-Black, Sherifa Gunu and R2Bees. She took part in the post-African Day Parade concert on September 22, 2013, at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. On Saturday, November 9, 2013, Efya shared the stage with P-Square, MI, Wande Coal, Burna Boy, Edem, Kwabena Kwabena, Asem and Paapa Yankson at the Globacom-sponsored Slide N Bounce concert series, which kicked off in Kumasi. On December 20, 2013, Efya performed at the 2013 edition of the annual Girl Talk concert, which was held at the National Theatre and headlined by Becca.

Artistry and musical influences

In an interview with Danai Mavunga of ''ARISE'' magazine, Efya described her sound as Afro-soul with a hint of pop. She said her sound fluctuates depending on how she feels and who she's working with. In another interview with ModernGhana, Efya cited Kojo Antwi, Aretha Franklin and The Temptations as her key musical influences. She also mentioned that she grew up enjoying highlife and old school jazz.

Humanitarian work

Efya is an official ambassador for the Awal Children of the Future Foundation (ACOTF), a non-profit organization aimed at helping victims of physical and emotional trauma, particularly orphans and street kids. The foundation was founded by record producer Posigee and is composed of eight musical ambassadors, including Sarkodie, Ruff n Smooth and Yaw Siki. In 2012, ACOTF released the theme song "This is Who I Am", which was written by Chase and produced by Posigee. The foundation receives all of the money raised from the song's digital sale.

Discography

Studio albums and mixtapes
* ''Unveiled'' (2009) (with Irene Logan)
* '' T.I.N.T'' (2013)
* ''Janesis'' (2015)

Filmography

* '' Single and Married'' (2012)

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Efya
Living people
1987 births
People from Kumasi
Neo soul singers
University of Ghana alumni
21st-century Ghanaian women singers
Yaa Asantewaa Girls' Senior High School alumni
Musicians from Kumasi