DWP Academy Star Liya Talks About Her Childhood And Family: "I'm Not Ghanaian"
- DWP Academy dancer Liya has addressed the confusion most fans have about her nationality
- The viral star explained how her mother, a Jamaican lady, had relocated to Ghana from the UK
- The dancer also explained her name, Aaliyah Sankofa, despite not being Ghanaian by birth
Liya, from the DWP Academy, is one of Ghana's known faces in the growing dance industry, who got her first big break choreographing for Beyonce's Black is King.
The dancer has been consistently with the DWP Academy right after completing high school at the prestigious Achimota Senior High School.
In a recent video, she told her story and addressed the confusion many have about her origin.
![DWP Academy star Liya in the UK with Lisa Quama and Endurance Grand. DWP Academy star Liya in the UK with Lisa Quama and Endurance Grand.](https://cdn.yen.com.gh/images/1120/79f40ac78a0da853.jpeg?v=1)
Source: Instagram
Liya speaks about life in Ghana
According to Liya, she was born in Birmingham, UK, to a Jamaican mother and a Montserration father.
![](https://cdn.yen.com.gh/images/360x203/ac4cc93aa3e1d712.jpeg?v=1)
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The DWP Academy star lived in Birmingham for about six years until her mum relocated to Ghana, where she acquired her primary and secondary education.
Despite not being Ghanaian, the dancer's full name, Aaliyah Sankofa, confuses many. She explained that she had no idea why her mum decided to give her and her siblings a Ghanaian name.
The dancer, who speaks fluent Twi and still wields a strong Birmingham accent, said,
"In my heart, I'm Ghanaian. I was raised in Ghana. You can't tell me I'm not Ghanaian. I'm more Ghanaian than some of these Ghanaians living in the UK. I take pride in being Ghanaian, and I'm happy my mother moved us."
She and her DWP Academy colleagues recently visited the UK for their debut performance.
Fans react to Liya's childhood story
YEN.com.gh gathered a few comments from fans in reaction to Liya's birography.
Able God said:
"My dear you are a Ghanaian and that's Periodttttt."
OheneNanaKwekuTwumBerimaTuah wrote:
"If your Mum is Jamaican you are Ghanaian 😭😭😭."
24thM_ay🇬🇭🇳🇬💚🦋 noted:
"Everything she is saying is the truth if you know her from old times like from Crown and Glory school ,as she said 🥰."
OFORIWAA_ remarked:
"Not me walking in front of Crown and Glory school at Gbawe now 😱."
Endurance Grand deconstructs her name
YEN.com.gh also reported that DWP Academy's most renowned star, Endurance Grand, had also shared the story behind her name.
According to Endurance, her colleague Demzy Baye, who brought her into the DWP Academy, suggested she add in the word 'Grand'.
Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh
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Source: YEN.com.gh