Timi Dakolo Biography
Timi Dakolo, born January 20, 1981, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music producer. He was crowned champion of the first season of Idols West Africa in 2007. Many of his hit songs have earned him numerous awards and global recognition. In addition to other prizes, his victory came with a recording contract with Sony BMG.
Wiki Profile
| Real Name: | Timi Dakolo |
| Date of Birth | January 20, 1981 |
| Place of Birth: | Accra, Ghana |
| Nationality: | Nigeria |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Occupation: | Singer, Songwriter and Music Producer |
| Net Worth | $2.1 million |
Early Life and Education
Timi Dakolo was born on January 20, 1981 in Accra, Ghana, to a Nigerian father, David, from Bayelsa, and a Ghanaian mother, Norah Kimmy Head, who died when Dakolo was thirteen years old.
Timi was born in Ghana but has a Nigerian passport and does not hold dual citizenship.
His grandmother Ateni Dakolo and Aunt Susan Larry raised him in Port Harcourt, and he credits his aunt as his early singing teacher.
Their bond was so strong that Timi turned down an offer to relocate to Lagos with his parents, preferring to remain in Port Harcourt with them.
Dakolo started singing in church at the age of twelve. In 2003 he joined the singing group Purple Love as a founding member.
They dominated the Port Harcourt club circuit, but disbanded in 2005 as its members had gained admission into the University of Port Harcourt.
Before Idol, he won a local talent hunt contest G.E FACTO held in Port Harcourt.
Career
Idols West Africa
Dakolo auditioned for the reality show Idols West Africa in Calabar in 2006. His favorite songs were More Than I by Commissioned and Time to Grow by Lemar.
His vocals impressed the judges, and he was considered a contender for the award. Dakolo learned of his grandmother’s death a week before the viewing of the Top 24 performances.
Dakolo first auditioned with Commissioned’s More Than I and Lemar’s Time to Grow in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Timi Dakolo was never in the bottom three during the competition.
The producers of the show revealed that Timi received the most votes in each of the final three weeks of the competition.
Timi’s grandmother died during the competition, just a week before the viewing of the Top 24 performances. This was a devastating emotional blow for him.
He turned to his Christian faith for strength during the competition at the time.
Timi was a Communication Studies student at the University of Port Harcourt before joining Idols West Africa.
After Idol
Timi Dakolo was shot in the lobby of the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt on January 1, 2008, after winning Idol West Africa in 2007.
He’d gone to the hotel with his friends to attend a church service. The attack was carried out at random by a faction of Niger Delta militants and was not directed at Timi.
Despite the fact that a hotel security guard was killed in the attack, Timi escaped with a flesh wound and was rushed to the hospital, where he was treated and discharged the same day.
Timi Dakolo released his first single, a three-song EP, in October 2009. He released the song “There’s a Cry” in 2011. Nigeria was the location for the music video. He is currently under contract with Lone Records/Now Muzik.
Timi Dakolo released a Christmas album titled “Merry Christmas, Darling” featuring guest duets such as Emeli Sandé and Kenny G in November 2019.
Albums
- 2019: Merry Christmas, Darling
- 2011: Beautiful Noise
Singles
- 2021: Everything (Amen)
- 2020: Take Ft. Olamide
- 2019: White Christmas
- 2019: Merry Christmas Darling feat. Emeli Sande
- 2018: I Never Know Say
- 2017: Medicine
- 2016: The Vow
- 2015: Wish Me Well
- 2014: Iyawo Mi
- 2013: Send Down the Rain
- 2011: There’s a Cry
- 2011: Great Nation
Awards
| Year | Event | Prize |
| 2019 | The Entrepreneur Africa Awards | The Entrepreneur Africa Prize For Music Business |
| 2916 | Nigeria Entertainment Award | Best Song of the Year |
| 2016 | The Headies Award | Best R&B Single |
| 2016 | The Headies Award | Best Vocal Performance (Male) |
| 2016 | The Headies Award | Best Recording of the Year |
| 2015 | COSCON Award | Best Love Song |
| 2014 | The Headies | Best Vocal Performance |
Personal Life
Timi Dakolo married Busola Dakolo (née Amupitan) in 2012. They have three children
Social Media
- Instagram: timidakolo
- Twitter: @timidakolo
