Musician and cultural ambassador, Wiyaala, popularly known as the Lioness of Africa, is set to be enskinned as the Paramount Queenmother of the Funsi Traditional Area in the Upper West Region on January 17, 2026.
The announcement was made by Wiyaala in a public statement in which she disclosed that the enskinment will be performed by the elders and kingsmen of Funsi, following the elevation of the traditional area to paramountcy status. She described the honour as historic, noting that it marks a significant new chapter in the cultural and traditional development of Funsi.
As part of the celebrations, Wiyaala has introduced the Pulung Festival, which will be held on the same day. According to her, the traditional enskinment ceremony will take place in the morning, while the festival will be staged later in the evening.
The cultural and musical festival is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. and will feature performances by a wide range of artistes and cultural groups, including Wiyaala, Gally, Samson B, The Yaga Yagas, Savage Dancers from Slovenia, B-Prince, F-Boy, Saadia, Apaco, Iron Bwoy, the Boys and Girls Club, the Chansiye Dance Group, and the Chansiye Women Group, among others.
In a separate public notice, the elders and kingsmen of the Funsi Paramountcy confirmed that Wiyaala will be formally introduced and enskinned as the Paramount Queenmother on the stated date. The ceremony and associated events will be hosted at the Wiyaala Art Centre in Funsi.
Organisers have extended an open invitation to members of the public, both within and outside the Funsi Traditional Area, to participate in what is expected to be a major cultural milestone for the community.
