- Wiyaala, the Lioness of Africa, will be enskinned Paramount Queenmother of Funsi on January 17, 2026
- The enskinment follows Funsi’s elevation to paramountcy status and will be performed by local elders and kingsmen
- She is also launching the Pulung Festival, with cultural and musical performances starting at 6:30 p.m. the same day
Ghanaian musician and cultural ambassador Wiyaala, widely known as the Lioness of Africa, has announced that she will be enskinned as the Paramount Queenmother of the Funsi Traditional Area in the Upper West Region on January 17, 2026.
In a public statement, Wiyaala said the enskinment will be carried out by the elders and kingsmen of Funsi, following the area’s recent elevation to paramountcy status. She described the honour as historic, noting that it ushers in a new chapter for the community.
To mark the occasion, Wiyaala has also introduced the Pulung Festival, which will take place on the same day. The traditional enskinment ceremony is scheduled for the morning, followed by a cultural and musical celebration in the evening.
The festival, beginning at 6:30 p.m., will feature performances by Wiyaala, Gally, Samson B, The Yaga Yagas, Savage Dancers from Slovenia, B-Prince, F-Boy, Saadia, Apaco, Iron Bwoy, as well as the Boys and Girls Club, Chansiye Dance Group, and Chansiye Women Group, among others.
In a separate notice, the elders and kingsmen of Funsi Paramountcy confirmed that Wiyaala will be formally enskinned and introduced as the Paramount Queenmother at the event, which will be hosted at the Wiyaala Art Centre.
Organisers have invited the public, both locally and beyond Funsi, to join the celebrations of what is expected to be a major cultural milestone for the region.
