Ya Levis Dalwear
Ya Levis Dalwear | |
|---|---|
 Ya Levis in Kinshasa, February 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Prince Nemiala |
| Also known as | Ya Levis |
| Born | September 1994 (age 29) Kinshasa, Zaire |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 2010—present |
Prince Nemiala (born September 9, 1994), better known mononymously by his stage name Ya Levis Dalwear or simply Ya Levis, is a Congolese vocalist, songwriter, and choreographer. He is known for his mellifluous ndombolo and African rumba ballads. He rose to prominence with hits like "Mokolo ya l'amour," "Libala," "Katchua," and "Mbangu Te," and has been making waves in the Congolese and African music industry.[1][2]
Biography[edit]
1994–2015: Childhood, education and career[edit]
Ya Levis Dalwear was born as Prince Nemiala in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on September 9, 1994. His father, Nico Nemiala, was a singer, and his mother sang in a Catholic Church. At the tender age of five, in 1999, his family relocated to France, where he spent his formative years.[1][3] Throughout childhood, he grew up listening to King Kester Emeneya, a luminary of soukous music that held sway over the late 1970s and early 1980s. Inspired by his father's connection to Kester, Nemiala nurtured an ambition to tread the path blazed by his revered musical icon.[4] Despite music being a family affair, his parents initially dissuaded him from venturing into the music industry. Notwithstanding, his passion for music eclipsed other pursuits, steering him to prioritize his musical aspirations above scholastics. Following his father's demise, music metamorphosed into his sanctuary.[2][5]
In 2009, he made his music debut alongside his brother, Olvin Dalwear, by joining "The Stars (Les étoiles)," a dance troupe. During this interval, he adopted the sobriquet "Ya Levis Dalwear."[2] In 2012, he left the group to embark on a solo career. His preliminary solo releases, "Love-Olivia" and "Shabanni," did not yield significant success. However, his serendipity changed when he caught the attention of MCP Group, who recognized his potentiality and became his producer. Under the MCP Group label, he released his single "Canœ kayak" on April 24, 2015. The latter song struck a chord with audiences, particularly women, as it portrayed an idealistic Valentine's Day. The single combines zouk and Congolese rumba influences.[2][5]
Hits[edit]
In April 2017, he made his first live television appearance with the song "On Récolte Ce Que L'on Sème" on the program Touche Pas à Mon Poste hosted by Cyril Valéry Isaac Hanouna. Over time, his musical style changed, transitioning from zouk sounds to incorporating Congolese rumba with Kizomba. This shift contributed to his international success, with notable hits like "Libala" released in May 2018 and the widely acclaimed "Katchua" released on October 31, 2018, gaining millions of views on YouTube.[2][5]
His major hits, such as "Libala", "Katchua", "Penzi", and "Mbangu Te", propelled him onto various stages, including the opening act for Flavor's concert in Paris for Trace Live on May 23, 2019. Following this, he embarked on an African tour in the summer of 2019, enthralling audiences in Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ivory Coast, and Rwanda. A significant milestone for his performance was at the "Red One Festival" in Kinshasa at the French Institute, where he shared the stage with notable artists like Vegedream and Dadju, marking his return to his motherland.[2][5]
In 2023 Ya Levis welcomed his first son
Discography[edit]
Album[edit]
- 2018: El Mayalove
- 2021: LCLM:Prélude
- 2022: L'amour change le monde
- 2022: Mélange des genres
Singles[edit]
- 2015: Mokolo ya l'amour
- 2015: Canœ kayak
- 2016: Je t'emmènerais
- 2016: Come On
- 2017: Mama
- 2017: Tourbillon (Ndombolo Freestyle)
- 2017: On Récolte Ce Que L'on Sème
- 2017: Farotema ft. Kiff No Beat
- 2018: Libala
- 2018: Katchua
- 2018: Noah Lunsi ft. Ya Levis — À bout de souffle
- 2020: Lokesha
- 2020: Nakati
Awards, appearances, nominations[edit]
Awards[edit]
Appearances[edit]
- 2014: Value 777 ft. Ya Levis — Cette fille
- 2016: Pheno Ambro ft. Sonik le Chokeur and Ya Levis — Kelele
- 2018: Noah Lunsi ft. Ya Levis — À bout de souffle
- 2019: Dj Babs ft. Ya Levis – Mariana
Nominations[edit]
- 2019: Best Francophone Artist — AFRIMMA
- 2019: Song of the Year, Katchua — AFRIMMA
- 2019: Best "new artist" — AFRIMMA
- 2019: Best Central African Male Artist — AFRIMMA
- 2019: Best New African Artist – African Talents Awards
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Ya Levis : fait sensation auprès de ses fans en offrant son nouveau single !". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
- ^ a b c d e f Hounsou, Andréa (2019-12-12). "Qui Est Ya Levis, Le Prétendu Petit-ami De Didi Stone Olomidé ?". doingbuzz.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-25.
- ^ Mbote, Redaction (2019-12-11). "Tout ce qu'il faut savoir sur Ya Lévis, le petit-ami de Didistone Olomide". Mbote (in French). Retrieved 2023-07-25.
- ^ "Ya Levis/Interview". issuu. United States. December 11, 2021. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
- ^ a b c d "Ya Levis Dalwear (Bibliography) | Afro Video". 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2023-07-25.