Timi Dakolo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Timi Dakolo
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 20, 1981 Accra, Ghana |
| Origin | Bayelsa State, Nigeria |
| Genres | Soul music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | Virgin Records (UMG) |
Timi Dakolo (born January 20, 1981) is a famous Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music producer. He won the very first season of Idols West Africa in 2007. Winning the show helped him get a music contract with Sony BMG and other cool prizes.
Contents
Early Life and Music Start
Timi Dakolo was born in Accra, Ghana. His father, David, was from Bayelsa in Nigeria. His mother, Norah Kimmy Head, was Ghanaian. Sadly, his mother passed away when Timi was thirteen. Even though he was born in Ghana, Timi has a Nigerian passport.
He grew up in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. His grandmother, Ateni Dakolo, and his aunt, Susan Larry, raised him. Timi says his aunt was his first singing teacher. He loved staying with them so much that he chose to remain in Port Harcourt.
Timi started singing in church when he was twelve. In 2003, he helped start a singing group called Purple Love. They became very popular in Port Harcourt clubs. The group broke up in 2005 because all the members went to the University of Port Harcourt. Around that time, Timi also won a local talent show called G.E FACTO in Port Harcourt.
Music Career Highlights
Timi Dakolo began his music journey singing in church choirs. In 2003, he co-founded the group Purple Love. This group became well-known in their area. They stopped performing in 2005 when Timi went to university.
In 2007, Timi became famous across Nigeria. He won the first season of Idols West Africa. His amazing singing during the show earned him a recording contract. This contract was with Sony BMG Africa.
Early Songs and Albums
In 2009, he released his first single, "Heaven Please." This song introduced him to many Nigerian fans. In 2011, Dakolo released "There's a Cry" and "Great Nation." "Great Nation" became a popular song. It encouraged unity and hope in Nigeria.
That same year, Timi released his first album, Beautiful Noise. It included songs like "Great Nation" and "Love Song." People loved the album for its emotional lyrics. They also praised Timi’s powerful voice.
Popular Hits and Awards
In 2014, Dakolo released "Iyawo Mi." This song became a favorite at weddings in Nigeria. It showed how he mixed soulful R&B with African highlife music. The next year, he released "Wish Me Well." This song won two awards at The Headies 2015. It won Best Recording of the Year and Best Vocal Performance (Male).
From 2016 to 2018, Timi released more successful songs. These included "The Vow" (2016), "Medicine" (2017), and "I Never Know Say" (2018). All these songs were about love and dedication.
Recent Works and Collaborations
In 2019, Timi Dakolo signed a record deal with Virgin EMI Records. That same year, he released his second album, Merry Christmas, Darling. This album featured international artists. For example, Emeli Sandé sang on the title track.
In 2020, Dakolo released "Take." This song featured Nigerian rapper Olamide. It combined soulful tunes with Afrobeat rhythms. In 2021, he released "Everything (Amen)." This song was played a lot across West Africa. It showed his strong influence in the music industry there.
Between 2022 and 2023, Timi continued to be a top soul singer in Nigeria. In 2023, he was a coach on The Voice Nigeria. He helped new singers develop their talents.
In 2024, Dakolo released his third album, The Chorus Leader. This album showed how much he had grown as a singer and songwriter. It mixed soul, gospel, and Afrobeat styles. It also featured artists like Patoranking, Phyno, Falz, Black, Geez, and Ebuka. Critics liked the album for its rich singing and meaningful lyrics. The songs talked about faith, strength, and African pride.
Idols West Africa Journey
In 2006, Timi Dakolo tried out for the reality show Idols West Africa. The auditions were in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Timi sang "More Than I" by Commissioned and "Time to Grow" by Lemar. The judges were very impressed by his voice. They saw him as a strong competitor to win.
During the competition, Timi Dakolo was never among the bottom three contestants. In the last three weeks of the show, the producers shared that Timi had received the most votes each week.
While he was competing, Timi's grandmother passed away. This happened a week before the Top 24 performances were shown. It was a very sad time for him. He found strength in his Christian faith to keep going in the competition. Before Idols West Africa, Timi was studying Communication Studies at the University of Port Harcourt.
After Idols
After winning Idols West Africa in 2007, Timi Dakolo faced a difficult event. On January 1, 2008, he was injured at a hotel in Port Harcourt. He had gone there for a church service with friends. This was a random act of violence. Timi was not the target. A hotel security guard was killed. Timi was taken to the hospital, treated, and released the same day.
Timi Dakolo released his first group of three songs in October 2009. In 2011, he released the song "There's a Cry." The music video for this song was filmed in Nigeria. He is currently working with Lone Records/Now Muzik. Timi Dakolo is also one of the judges on The Voice Nigeria.
In November 2019, Timi Dakolo released a Christmas album. It was called "Merry Christmas, Darling." This album featured duets with famous artists like Emeli Sandé and Kenny G.
Personal Life
Timi Dakolo married Busola Dakolo (whose maiden name was Amupitan) in 2012. They have three children together.
Discography
Albums
- 2011: Beautiful Noise
- 2019: Merry Christmas, Darling
- 2024: The Chorus Leader
Singles
- 2011: "There's a Cry"
- 2011: "Great Nation"
- 2014: "Iyawo Mi"
- 2015: "Wish Me Well"
- 2016: "The Vow"
- 2017: "Medicine"
- 2018: "I Never Know Say"
- 2019: "Merry Christmas Darling feat. Emeli Sande"
- 2020: "Take" Ft. Olamide
- 2021: "Everything (Amen)"
Awards and Nominations
- 2010: Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year – Nominated, during The Headies
- 2015: Best Recording of the Year – Wish Me Well
