Di'Ja

Di'Ja
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 Nigerian singer, visual artist, fashion designer and songwriter born in 1982. 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

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 Wednesday, February 03, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.