TIMAYA HISTORY

 

Inetimi Timaya Odon was born on 15 August 1980 in Port Harcourt City, Rivers State, Nigeria. He grew up as the youngest of fifteen children in a large family. His father worked as a banker, while his mother was a trader. For his early education, Timaya attended Assemblies of God Nursery and Primary School.[3] His secondary education began at Nkpolu Oroworukwo in Port Harcourt,[1] where he often broke house rules to attend late-night music events. After relocating to Lagos, arranged by his mother, he enrolled at Ikeja Grammar School and eventually obtained his secondary school certificate there.[4]

Timaya later returned to Port Harcourt to study Banking and Finance; however, he performed poorly in examinations and dropped out after the first semester.[3] He then moved back to Lagos to join Eedris Abdulkareem's hip-hop group as a backup vocalist.[5] After three years with Eedris, Timayaleft the group to focus on his solo career. He began recording collaborations with fellow up-and-coming artists and made his first cameo appearance in an unreleased music video by UDX, a Lagos-based rap group.[6] Subsequently, he met producer Obaksolo in Mafoluku, Oshodi, who produced his first major hit record, "Dem Mama," after hearing him perform the a cappella version.[7] He also collaborated with Namse Udosen (Menthol X) on the track "Pomporo" on his debut album, True Story.

Describing the song in an interview posted in August 2013, Timaya explained, "'Dem Mama' chronicles the 1999 devastation of Odi, a riverside community in the Niger Delta. Soldiers pursuing militants they accused of killing eight policemen. The village was razed, resulting in numerous casualties. By addresing this poignant issue years later, I gained immediate street credibility for my boldness."[8]

His solo career began in 2005 with the release of the single "Dem Mama," which highlighted the Odi massacre. His debut album, True Story, was released the following year, followed by his second album, Gift and Grace, in 2008. His third studio album, De Rebirth, was released in collaboration with Black Body Entertainment and featured the lead single "Plantain Boy".[1] He collaborated with Dem Mama Soldiers on the album LLNP (Long Life N Prosperity). In 2012, Timaya released Upgrade. To date, his work has earned him several awards and nominations, including four Headies Awards, two AFRIMMA Awards, one Nigeria Music Award, and one NEA Award.[2]

In August 2023, Timaya released a new single titled "Tomato" under Dem Mama Records and Empire. The music video premiered on YouTube the following month, directed by Clarence Peters and featuring cameo appearances by D’Banj and the Cubana Chief Priest.His solo career began in 2005 with the release of the single "Dem Mama," which highlighted the Odi massacre. His debut album, True Story, was released the following year, followed by his second album, Gift and Grace, in 2008. His third studio album, De Rebirth, was released in collaboration with Black Body Entertainment and featured the lead single "Plantain Boy".[1] He collaborated with Dem Mama Soldiers on the album LLNP (Long Life N Prosperity). In 2012, Timaya released Upgrade. To date, his work has earned him several awards and nominations, including four Headies Awards, two AFRIMMA Awards, one Nigeria Music Award, and one NEA Award.[2]

In August 2023, Timaya released a new single titled "Tomato" under Dem Mama Records and Empire. The music video premiered on YouTube the following month, directed by Clarence Peters and featuring cameo appearances by D’Banj and the Cubana Chief Priest.