Timi Dakolo is a Nigerian sensational singer who was born January 20, 1981 in Accra, Ghana to a Nigerian father, precisely from Bayelsa-origin called David and a Ghanaian mother, Norah.
He was winner of the inaugural season of Idols West Africa in 2007. With his victory, he signed a recording contract with Sony BMG, in addition to other prizes.
Childhood And Early Career
After the death of his mother, Timi Dakolo was brought up by his grandmother Ateni Dakolo and aunty Susan Larry, who lived in Port Harcourt. He later admitted that her grandmother was his early singing teacher and inspiration.
Timi relationship was so deep with her grandmother that he refused an offer to move to Lagos with his parents, opting to stay back in Port-Harcourt with his grandmother.
One remarkable thing about Timi is his refusal to claim dual citizenship despite being born in Ghana. Today, he has held on to his Nigerian passport as a true citizen.
Timi began singing in church at an early age of twelve. As at 2003, he was a member of the singing group Purple Love as a founding member. They dominated the Port Harcourt club shows, but got disbanded in 2005 with all its members gaining admission into the University of Port Harcourt.
Timi was said to have won a local talent hunt contest G.E FACTO held in Port Harcourt around that same period.
Idols West Africa
In 2006, Dakolo auditioned for reality show Idols West Africa in Calabar. His vocals impressed the judges, and he was seen as a contender for the prize. In addition, his carefully selected songs of choice were Commissioned’s More Than I and Lemar’s Time to Grow.
A week before the viewing of the Top 24 performances, Dakolo received the news that his loving grandmother was dead. This was a big emotional blow to him. However, this short challenge did not deter Timi from making it to the top. At that time, he turned to his Christian faith for strength to pull through in the competition.
While in the competition, Timi Dakolo was never in the last. In the final of the three weeks competition, it was revealed by the producers of the show that Timi had the highest number of votes each of those weeks.
Wonderfully enough, Timi was a student of Communication Studies in the University of Port Harcourt when he emerged winner of the competition.
Another Challenge:
After winning Idol West Africa in 2007, life was as they say is not a bed of roses. He again met with another downs of life when on January 1, 2008, on New Year’s Day, Timi Dakolo was shot at the lobby of the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt. He had gone to the hotel to attend a church service programme in the company of his friends.
The attack was a random act of violence by a faction of the Niger Delta militants whose target was not really on Timi. Luckily enough, he escaped with a flesh wound, was rushed to the hospital, treated and subsequently discharged on the same day.
The hotel security guard was killed in the attack.
Timi Dakolo released his first single comprising three songs in October 2009.
In 2011, he released the song “There’s a Cry”. The music video was filmed in Nigeria. He is currently signed with Lone Records and now Muzik.
Timi Dakolo is one of the Judges on The Voice Nigeria.
Personal Life
He married his long time sweetheart, Busola Dakolo (nee Amupitan) in 2010. The marriage is blessed with three children.
Recently, Busola Dakolo, wife of Timi Dakolo accused Pastor Fatoyinbo, the Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) of raping her as a teenager in an interview with C Zideonwo of YNaija. However, this allegation of rape levied against Pastor Fatoyinbo has since been denied. Again, many have questioned why now, even if it is true that the said rape allegation levied against the Pastor is true since it had been a very long issue. The matter has generated lots of comments and controversies in both electronics and social media. Whether this issue of rape scandal is true or not, both parties should exercise caution and maturity.
Discography
Timi Dakolo has released a number of Albums including:
2011: “Beautiful Noise”, Singles2011: “There’s a Cry”, 2014: “Iyawo Mi”, 2015: “Wish Me Well, 2016: “The Vow”,2017: Medicine,2018: I Never Know Say.
In 2019 Presidential debate, Timi was called upon to sing to the delight of the audience and his melodious song touched the hearts of everyone as usual, an indication that music is indeed the food of the soul.
Awards and nominations
Timi has received six nominations and awards including
2010: Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year – Nominated, during The Headies.
His Net Worth
Timi Dakolo is exceptionally talented in music, rated one of the best singers in Nigeria with a net worth of about $2.5 million dollars.