TedxAccra Speakers: Meet Afia Boafowaa Yahaya Awindor (Efya)

Efya (née Jane Fara Fauzzier Afia Boafowaa Yahaya Awindor) who performs under the mononym “Efya” formerly Miss Jane is a Ghanaian singer-songwriter and five-time Ghana Music Awards Best Female Vocalist, (she won the award twice in 2013 when the Maiden edition of the Europe Ghana Music Awards took place).

Efya was born on the 10th of April 1987, in Kumasi, Ghana.

She began her singing career like most, in the church choir, but prior to this, Efya had dreams of a future in filmmaking. Wanting to follow in the footsteps of her mother, Nana Hemaa Adjoa Awindor, a filmmaker who became a celebrity in her own right, as the host of a popular late 90s Ghanaian TV Show, "Greetings From Abroad".

Efya's emergence on the music scene didn't happen until 2006, when she auditioned & gained national recognition as a runner-up in Charterhouse' Stars of The Future talent hunt, landing her and the winner Irene Logan, a three-year recording deal, with the event company as a duet (Irene & Jane).

The group was well received, and recorded an album together: Unveiled, which was released in South Africa. After their contract concluded, Efya, who had until then been performing under the moniker “Miss Jane” decided it was time to reinvent herself as a solo act.

So once her contract with Charterhouse concluded and she found herself a free agent once more. She began to juggle playing shows, and recording songs, while reading Theatre Arts Directing & Music at the University of Ghana, Legon.

During this period Efya, almost singlehandedly, amassed a small following before signing with One Nation Entertainment in 2011, which took her efforts to new heights. Efya has played countless gigs all over West Africa and beyond, averaging 5 appearances a month. Performing and collaborating with artists from all over the world, Efya's following has grown by leaps and bounds, both locally and internationally.

Her accolades just like her fans come from all over the world as well.

Social media links:
Facebook: Efya
Twitter: Efya_nokturnal
Website:www.efyasworld.com
Email:[email protected]
TedX Accra is schduled for the 11th of April, 2015 at the National Theater, Accra.

For More information Kindly Log onto www.tedxaccra.org

Akpah Prince
[email protected]