Timi Dakolo is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, soul performer, and winner of the maiden edition of the Idols West Africa competition in 2007. He was named the golden voice of Africa and has a record deal with the Virgin Emi Records (UMG).
Timi Dakolo Background
Mr Dakolo was born on the 20th of January 1981, in Accra, Ghana, to a Nigerian father and a Ghanaian mother. He hails from Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
At age 13, Timi Dakolo’s family experienced a painful ordeal with the passing of his mother. After his mother passed, his grandma, Ateni Dakolo, took up the responsibility of raising the music star.
He obtained a degree in Communication Studies from the University of Port Harcourt. After he won the West African Idols competition, he went on to study songwriting, so that he could become a professional.
Timi Dakolo is married to Busola Dakolo and they are blessed with three children.
Timi Dakolo Early Career
Mr Dakolo gives his grandma credit for encouraging him to join the choir and nurturing his talent as a singer. His grandma’s encouragement made him join the Purple Love singing group. The group eventually became one of the popular music groups in Port Harcourt.
In 2005, the music group disbanded because all its members gained admission into the University of Port Harcourt. Almost at the same time, Timi Dakolo won a local talent hunt contest called the G.E FACTO.
He got his big break in 2007 when he won the Idols West Africa reality show in Calabar, Cross Rivers state. While the competition was ongoing, Mr Dakolo received the heartbreaking news of his grandmother’s passing which shattered him
On leaving the reality show, he recorded a rock ballad Heaven please, as a tribute to his grandma and featured the rapper, M.I.
Timi Dakolo released his first single in 2009 and released his debut album, Beautiful noise in 2011. The album garnered widespread critical and commercial acclaim.
Discography
- Beautiful Noise – 2011
- Merry Christmas, Darling – 2019
Singles And EPS
- Send Down the Rain – 2013
- Iyawo Mi – 2014
- Wish Me Well – 2015
- Medicine – 2017
- I Never Know Say – 2018
- Merry Christmas, Darling – 2019
- White Christmas – 2019
Compilations
- Let It Shine, Various Artists – 2010
- Power of 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Various Artist) – 2018
Timi Dakolo Awards And Nominations
- Nominated for the Best High-Life Video at the Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) – 2014
- Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) nominee for Best Cinematography – 2014
- Best Vocal Performance at The Headies – 2014
- Nigeria Entertainment Award nominee for R&B Artist of the Year – 2015
- COSCON Award nominee for the Best Song in Lyrics – 2015
- Nominee at the COSCON Award for the Best Love Song – 2015
- The Headies Award for Best Recording of the Year – 2016
- Best Vocal Performance (Male) at The Headies Award – 2016
- The Headies Award for Best R&B Single – 2016
- Nominee at the Nigeria Entertainment Award for Alternative Artist of the Year – 2016
- City People Music Award nominee for RnB Artist of the Year – 2016
- Nominee at the City People Music Award for RnB Artist of the Year – 2016
- Nigeria Entertainment Award nominee for Best Song of the Year – 2016
- Nominee at the Nigerian Entertainment Award for Inspirational Artist – 2017
- The Entrepreneur Africa Prize for Music Business – 2019
Timi Dakolo Quotes
“Do you know you can love someone so deeply and still not love them like they want to be loved. Because love means different things to different people and they interpret it differently.”
“You see that woman selling Akara, Akamu and bread on your street since you were a child and she is still there. She is a superhero. Hail her for me.”
“Happiness is the ultimate success, AIM for it…”
“Don’t only be rich on social media.”
“These days if you want to get into any kind of partnership or relationship with anyone, ask for their social media handle. Please make an effort to search for their comments on popular blogs. So you can be sure of what you are getting into. People are the things they say.”
“I hope your knowledge of who God is not solely based on someone else’s idea of who God is to them. It is extremely important that you experience God for yourself. It is meant to be a personal relationship.”
“The world won’t get any better if we see evil and look the other way.”
“History has never been kind to men who attempted to be God and subdue/oppress their fellow men.”
“The whole job of a musician is to cause a significant experience in the hearts and minds of your listeners.”
“The highest human service is to inspire.”
“You can’t take God out of the equation, GOD is the Equation.”
“Dear daughter, you don’t exist for the pleasure of any man. Any man that has you is blessed, and know that you are complete being all by yourself, you are capable of doing awesome/amazing things…”
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Entrepreneurial Lesson
Always Acquire Necessary Skills
Timi Dakolo had a natural talent for singing, which he utilized in his grandma’s church choir before he started going for auditions. After he won the Idols, West Africa, he understood that to stand out in the industry, you need to be a true professional. So, he went on to do a songwriting course.
If you want to stand out in your industry, you need to master your craft. To be top of mind and stand out from the competition, you need to continuously evolve with trends in your industry.
When you know your onion, you can charge premium and people will pay, because they know you deliver.
Image Credit: @timidakolo – Instagram, Twitter
