{{Short description|Sierra Leonean -Nigerian singer}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Hadiza | image = | caption = Di'Ja in 2015 | birth_name = Hadiza Blell | birth_date = 14 August 1984 | birth_place = | alias = | background = person<!-- track if single person or group for hCard microformat: use value "person" or "group_or_band" --> | genre = {{flatlist| *R&B *pop *Afrobeat *Afropop }} | occupation = {{flatlist| *Singer *songwriter }} | years_active = 2002–present | label = Mavin Records | associated_acts = {{flatlist|<!-- associated_acts is deprecated; consider using current_member_of, past_member_of, spinoff_of --> *Don Jazzy *Tiwa Savage *Patoranking *Dr SID *Reekado Banks *Korede Bello *D'Prince}} | website = {{URL|dijanation.com}} }}
'''Hadiza Blell''' (born 14 August 1984), known professionally as '''Di'Ja''', is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. In 2009, she released her first single "Rock Steady", which was nominated for Best Urban/R&B Single at the 2009 Canadian Radio Music Awards. She also won the Best New Artist award at the 2008 Beat Music Awards.<ref name="Premium Times">{{Cite news | url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/arts-entertainment/155169-nigerian-entertainment-round-donjazzys-mavin-records-signs-new-artiste-dija.html | title=Nigerian Entertainment Round-up: Donjazzy's Mavin Records signs on new artiste' Di'Ja | date=15 February 2014 | access-date=19 March 2014 | author=Abimboye, Micheal|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref><ref name="Daily Post Newspaper">{{Cite news | url=http://dailypost.ng/2014/02/14/don-jazzy-signs-female-act-dija-mavin-records/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| title=Don Jazzy signs female act Di'Ja to Mavin Records | date=14 February 2014 | access-date=19 March 2014 | author=Filani, Omotola|newspaper=Daily Post}}</ref> In 2014, she signed with Mavin Records.
==Early life and education== Di'Ja has lived in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the United States and Canada. Her mother, Asma'u Blell is Nigerian, while her father, Joseph Blell is Sierra Leonean.
Di'Ja earned a joint degree in biology and psychology.<ref name="NETNG">{{Cite news | url=https://thenet.ng/don-jazzy-signs-new-act-dija-to-mavin-records-2-more-to-follow/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| title=Don Jazzy signs new act Di'ja to Mavin Records, 2 more to follow | date=14 February 2014 | access-date=19 March 2014 | author=Alonge, Osagie | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310194152/http://thenet.ng/2014/02/don-jazzy-signs-new-act-dija-to-mavin-records-2-more-to-follow/ | archive-date=10 March 2014 | url-status=live |newspaper=The NET}}</ref>
==Career== Di'Ja began her music career in 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.informationng.com/2014/02/mavin-boss-don-jazzy-signs-new-act-dija-to-mavin-records-2-more-to-follow.html | title=Mavin Boss Don Jazzy Signs New Act Di'ja to Mavin Records, 2 more to follow | publisher=Information Nigeria | date=17 February 2014 | access-date=19 March 2014}}</ref> In 2012, she released several singles, including "Dan'Iska (Rudebwoy)", "Hold On (Ba Damuwa)" and "How Can We Be Friends".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bellanaija.com/2013/02/05/must-listen-dija-presents-daniska-rudebwoy-and-hold-on-ba-damuwa/ | title=Must Listen! Di'Ja presents "Dan'Iska (Rudebwoy)" and "Hold On (Ba Damuwa)" | publisher=Bellanaija | date=5 February 2013 | access-date=19 March 2014}}</ref> On 14 February 2014, Di'Ja signed a record deal with Don Jazzy{{'}}s Mavin Records.<ref name="NETNG"/> "Yaro", her first official single under the label was released the same day. It infuses Hausa and Krio dialects in honour of her Nigerian and Sierra Leonean heritage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Introducing Don Jazzy's New Artiste Di'ja! Listen to Her New Single – Yaro|url=http://www.bellanaija.com/2014/02/14/introducing-don-jazzys-new-artiste-dija-listen-to-her-new-single-yaro/|publisher=bellanaija|date=14 February 2014|access-date=14 February 2014|author=S, Deji}}</ref>
In May 2014, Di'Ja was featured on "Dorobucci" alongside labelmates Don Jazzy, Dr Sid, Tiwa Savage, D'Prince, Korede Bello and Reekado Banks.<ref>{{cite web|title=MUSIC: Mavins – Dorobucci ft Don Jazzy, Dr Sid, Tiwa Savage, Dprince, Di'Ja, Korede Bello, Reekado Banks|url=http://www.360nobs.com/2014/05/music-mavins-dorobucci-ft-don-jazzy-dr-sid-tiwa-savage-dprince-dija-korede-bello-reekado-banks/|publisher=360nobs|date=1 May 2014|access-date=11 May 2014|author=S, Quedy|archive-date=10 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510183437/http://www.360nobs.com/2014/05/music-mavins-dorobucci-ft-don-jazzy-dr-sid-tiwa-savage-dprince-dija-korede-bello-reekado-banks/|url-status=dead}}</ref> She was also featured on "Arise", alongside Don Jazzy and Reekado Banks. On 15 December 2017, Di'Ja released her extended play ''Aphrodija'', featuring guest appearances from Tiwa Savage and Reekado Banks.<ref>{{Cite news|title="Aphrodija" Offers a More Complete Expressive Di'ja|date=18 December 2017 |url=http://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/ep-review-dija-aphrodija-id7744757.html|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Mavins – Arise Ft. Don Jazzy, Reekado Banks & Di'Ja|url=http://www.view.com.ng/new-music-the-mavins-arise-ft-don-jazzy-reekado-banks-dija//|publisher=View Nigeria|date=21 September 2014|access-date=21 September 2014|author=View Nigeria|archive-date=30 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930155703/http://www.view.com.ng/new-music-the-mavins-arise-ft-don-jazzy-reekado-banks-dija/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In May 2017, she performed the song "One Talk" at the Calabar edition of the Mega Music Nationwide Tour organised by Globacom Telecommunication Company.<ref>{{Cite news|date=21 May 2017|title=Di'ja drops new hit track at Calabar Glo Mega Music Tour|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/05/dija-drops-new-hit-track-calabar-glo-mega-music-tour/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=26 February 2021|newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Awards and nominations== {| class ="wikitable" |- !Year !Event !Prize !Recipient !Result !Ref |- |2014 |Nigeria Entertainment Awards |Most Promising Act to Watch |Herself |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/arts-entertainment/161770-pop-duo-skuki-reject-nigerian-entertainment-awards-nomination.html | title=Pop duo, Skuki, reject Nigerian Entertainment Awards nomination | date=31 May 2014 | access-date=1 June 2014 | author=Abimboye, Micheal|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref> |- |2009 |Canadian Radio Music Awards |Best Urban/R&B Single |"Rock Steady" |{{nom}} |rowspan="2"|<ref name="Premium Times"/><ref name="Daily Post Newspaper"/> |- |2008 |Beat Music Awards |Best New Artist |Herself |{{won}} |}
==Discography== ===Singles=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Year !Title !Album |- |rowspan="1"|2008 |"Rock Steady" |rowspan="11" {{n/a|Non-album single}} |- |rowspan="1"|2012 |"How Can We Be Friends" |- |rowspan="2"|2013 |"Dan'Iska (Rudebwoy)" |- |"Hold On (Ba Damuwa)" |- | rowspan="4" |2014 |"Yaro" |- |"Dorobucci"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/music-review-dorobucci-could-have-been-better-dbanj | title=MUSIC REVIEW: 'Dorobucci' Could Have Been Better With D'Banj | publisher=Daily Times of Nigeria | date=10 May 2014 | access-date=21 May 2014 | author=Opeoluwani, Akintayo | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522051126/http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/music-review-dorobucci-could-have-been-better-dbanj | archivedate=22 May 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><br><span style="font-size:85%;">(with Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr Sid, D'Prince, Reekado Banks, and Korede Bello)</span> |- |"Awww"<ref>{{Citation|last=MavinRecords|title=Di'Ja - Awww Music Video|date=16 December 2014|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0MiYMNheiM|access-date=12 May 2016}}</ref> |- |"Adaobi"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bellanaija.com/2014/05/27/new-music-mavins-feat-dija-reekado-banks-korede-bello-adaobi/ | title=New Music: Mavins Feat. Di'Ja, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello – Adaobi | publisher=Bellanaija | date=27 May 2014 | access-date=1 June 2014}}</ref><br><span style="font-size:85%;">(with Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, and Don Jazzy)</span> |- |2015 |"Awww"|"Looku Looku" |- |2016 |"Take Kiss"<ref>{{cite web|title=New Music Di'Ja – 'Take Kiss' ft. BabyFresh|url=http://pulse.ng/new_music/new-music-di-ja-take-kiss-ft-babyfresh-id4603639.html|website=Pulse.ng|date=25 January 2016|publisher=Joey Akan|access-date=26 January 2016|archive-date=29 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129013252/http://pulse.ng/new_music/new-music-di-ja-take-kiss-ft-babyfresh-id4603639.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |2017 |"Air" |- |2019 |"Omotena" |''Di'Ja'' EP<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listen to Dija’s EP containing 4 new songs |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/07/06/listen-to-dijas-ep-containing-with-4-new-songs/ |access-date=2026-05-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2024 |<nowiki>''Soyaya''</nowiki> |Single |}
==Videography== {|class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Album !Director !Ref |- |2016 |"Take Kiss" |rowspan="3" {{n/a|Non-album single}} |Adasa Cookey |<ref>{{cite web|title=Di'Ja Singer is playful and adorable in 'Take kiss' video|url=http://pulse.ng/music_videos/dija-singer-is-playful-and-adorable-in-take-kiss-video-id4603476.html|website=Pulse.ng|date=25 January 2016 |publisher=Joay Akan|access-date=26 January 2016}}</ref> |- |2016 |"Falling for You" |Unlimited L.A |<ref>{{cite web|title=Di'Ja, Patoranking Stars become colourful lovers in 'Falling for you' video|url=http://pulse.com.gh/music-videos/dija-patoranking-stars-become-colourful-lovers-in-falling-for-you-video-id4224455.html|website=Pulse.com.gh|date=2 October 2015 |publisher=David Mawuli|access-date=3 February 2016}}</ref> |- |2014 |"Aww" |Unlimited L.A | |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.dijanation.com/ Official website]
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Category:Living people Category:21st-century Nigerian women singers Category:Nigerian women singer-songwriters Category:21st-century Nigerian singer-songwriters Category:Nigerian people of Sierra Leonean descent Category:1984 births Category:Mavin Records artists