Jane Fara Fauzzier Afia Boafowaa Yahaya Awindor (Efya)
Jane Fara Fauzzier Afia Boafowaa Yahaya Awindor better known as Efya, was born on 10th April, 1987. She is a Ghanaian neo soul vocalist, songwriter, performer and actress. Efya got her first exposure to fame when she participated in the maiden edition of the Stars of the Future talent show. She is now an award winning vocalist with major hits and has one of the best mixtapes in the music Industry of Ghana.
Early Life
Efya was born in Kumasi, Ghana and has two brothers and a sister.She attended Garrison, obtained her Secondary Education from Yaa Asantewaa Secondary School and tertiary education from University of Ghana with a degree in theatre and music. She relocated to Accra when her mother enrolled at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI). She began her singing career like most do, in the church choir, but prior to this, Efya had designs on an entirely different future, filmmaking. Wanting to follow in her mother’s footsteps, Nana Hemaa Adjoa Awindor, a filmmaker who became a celebrity in her own right, as the host of a popular Ghanaian TV Show, Greetings From Abroad in the 90s. The show was highly acclaimed, and thus gave Efya, the opportunity to understudy her mother in film production. Her emergence on the music scene was not until 2008, when she randomly auditioned and gained national recognition, as a runner-up in CharterHouse Stars of The Future talent hunt. With Kojo Antwi, Aretha Franklin and The Temptations as one of her favourite artistes, she was good to go.
Music Career
Efya is currently working on her debut studio album Love Janesis. The album was initially slated to be release in the third quarter of 2013. However, the release time frame was postponed to February 2014. On January 11, 2014, Efya released the album’s lead single “Forgetting Me”. The song was met with great reception. During an interview in 2013, with Alexis Stephens of MTV Iggy, Efya said that the album would contain many love songs and the album will explore the topics of hate and pain, two universal themes associated with love. Moreover, Efya stated that the album draws from her personal experiences. On July 16, 2014, Efya released “One of Your Own” as the album’s second single. The song features vocals by Bisa K’Dei. One Nation Entertainment released “Gingam Too Much” as the album’s third single; it was produced by Kaywa. The long awaited song was due on Boxing Day, 2014. The music video for “Forgetting Me” was uploaded onto YouTube on February 5, 2015; it was directed by Prince Dovlo of Seven Streets Entertainment.
Discography
- Unveiled (2009) (with Irene Logan)
- T.I.N.T. (2013)
- Love Janesis (2015)
Filmography
Awards and Nominations
Awards
2011
2012
2013
Ghana Music Awards: Best Female Performance, Record of the Year
4syte TV Music Video Awards: Best Female Video, Best Storyline Video
2014
City People Entertainment Awards: Musician of the Year (Female)
Ghana Music Awards: Best Female Vocal Performance
Nominations
2011
Ghana Music Awards: Record of the Year, Songwriter of the Year (with Asem)
4syte TV Music Video Awards: Best Female Video
2012
Ghana Music Awards: Artiste of the Year, Best Collaboration, Hip-hop Song (with Sarkodie and Jayso), Record of the Year.
2013
4Syte TV Music Video Awards: Best Photography Video of the Year, Best Collaboration Video
City People Entertainment Awards: Musician of the Year (Female)
Ghana Music Awards: Afro Pop Song of the Year
2014
World Music Awards:World’s Best Female Artist,World’s Best Live Act, World’s Best Entertainer Of The Year, World’s Best Song, World’s Best Video.
African Muzik Magazine Awards: Best Female West Africa
MTV Africa Music Awards 2014: Best Female