Di'Ja

Di'Ja

Di'Ja in 2015
Background information
Birth name Hadiza Blell
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Recording artist
  • songwriter
  • performer
  • model
Years active 2008–present
Labels Mavin Records
Associated acts
Website dijanation.com

Hadiza Blell, better known by her stage name Di'Ja, is a Sierra Leonean Nigerian singer, visual artist and songwriter. She is currently signed to Mavin Records. In 2009, she released her first single "Rock Steady" which was nominated for Best Urban/R&B Single at the 2009 Canadian Radio Music Awards. Moreover, she won the Best New Artist award at the 2008 Beat Music Awards.[1][2]

Early life

Di'Ja has lived in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the United States and Canada. Her mother is from Northern Nigeria and her father is from Sierra Leone. At a young age, Di'Ja committed herself to academia and earned a double degree in Biology and Psychology. After earning the aforementioned degrees, Di'Ja became passionate about music, art and philosophy.[3]

Music career

Her music career started in 2008.[4] In 2012, Di'Ja released several singles including "Dan'Iska (Rudebwoy)", "Hold On (Ba Damuwa)" and "How Can We Be Friends".[5] On February 14, 2014, Don Jazzy announced the addition of Di'Ja to Mavin Records.[3] Her first official single under Mavin Records was also released on February 14, 2014. The song, which is titled "Yaro", is an up-tempo celebration of love and commitment against all odds. It infuses Hausa and Krio dialects in honour of her Nigerian and Sierra Leonean roots.[6]

In May 2014, Di'Ja was featured on "Dorobucci" alongside label mates Don Jazzy, Dr SID, Tiwa Savage, D'Prince, Korede Bello and Reekado Banks.[7] In May 2014, an animated video was released for "Dorobucci".[8] As of 21 June 2014, "Dorobucci" has received over 12 million downloads since its release.[9] Di'Ja was featured on "Arise" alongside Don Jazzy and Reekado Banks.[10]

Awards and nominations

Year Event Prize Recipient Result Ref
2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Most Promising Act to Watch Herself Nominated [11]
2009 Canadian Radio Music Awards Best Urban/R&B Single Nominated [1][2]
2008 Beat Music Awards Best New Artist Herself Won

|2015 |Headies award |Best alternative song |herself |style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated

Discography

Singles

Year Title Album
2008 "Rock Steady" Non-album single
2012 "How Can We Be Friends"
2013 "Dan'Iska (Rudebwoy)"
"Hold On (Ba Damuwa)"
2014 "Yaro"
"Dorobucci"[12]
(with Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr SID, D'Prince, Reekado Banks, and Korede Bello)		 TBA
"Adaobi"[13]
(with Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, and Don Jazzy)
2015 "Looku Looku"
2016 "Take Kiss"[14] N/A

Videography

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year Title Album Director Ref
2016 Take Kiss N/A Adasa Cookey [15]
2016 Falling For You N/A Unlimited L.A [16]

References

  1. 1 2 Abimboye, Micheal (15 February 2014). "Nigerian Entertainment Round-up: Donjazzy’s Mavin Records signs on new artiste’ Di’Ja". Premium Times. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 Filani, Omotola (14 February 2014). "Don Jazzy signs female act Di'Ja to Mavin Records". Daily Post Newspaper. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  3. 1 2 Alonge, Osagie (14 February 2014). "Don Jazzy signs new act Di'ja to Mavin Records, 2 more to follow". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "Mavin Boss Don Jazzy Signs New Act Di'ja to Mavin Records, 2 more to follow". Information Nigeria. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  5. ↑ "Must Listen! Di'Ja presents "Dan'Iska (Rudebwoy)" and "Hold On (Ba Damuwa)"". Bellanaija. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  6. ↑ S, Deji (14 February 2014). "Introducing Don Jazzy's New Artiste Di'ja! Listen to Her New Single – Yaro". bellanaija. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  7. ↑ S, Quedy (1 May 2014). "MUSIC: Mavins – Dorobucci ft Don Jazzy, Dr Sid, Tiwa Savage, Dprince, Di’Ja, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks". 360nobs. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  8. ↑ Chic Benita (9 June 2014). "Download VIDEO : Mavin Allstar -Dorobucci AnimatedVideo". Ogusbaba. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  9. ↑ Soft Dude-GP (23 June 2014). "Dorobucci By Mavin All Stars Hits 12 Million Downloads". View Nigeria. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  10. ↑ View Nigeria (21 September 2014). "The Mavins – Arise Ft. Don Jazzy, Reekado Banks & Di’Ja". View Nigeria. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  11. ↑ Abimboye, Micheal (31 May 2014). "Pop duo, Skuki, reject Nigerian Entertainment Awards nomination". Premium Times. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  12. ↑ Opeoluwani, Akintayo (10 May 2014). "MUSIC REVIEW: 'Dorobucci' Could Have Been Better With D'Banj". Daily Times of Nigeria. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "New Music: Mavins Feat. Di’Ja, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello – Adaobi". Bellanaija. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "New Music Di’Ja – 'Take Kiss' ft. BabyFresh". Pulse.ng. Joey Akan. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  15. ↑ "Di'Ja Singer is playful and adorable in 'Take kiss' video". Pulse.ng. Joay Akan. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  16. ↑ "Di'Ja, Patoranking Stars become colourful lovers in 'Falling for you' video". Pulse.com.gh. David Mawuli. Retrieved 3 February 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, May 05, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.