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Timi Dakolo

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Timi Dakolo

Timi Dakolo is a Nigerian singer, best known for winning the first season of Idols West Africa,[1][2] beating rival Omawumi Megbele.[3][4][5]

Childhood/Early Career

Dakolo was born in Accra, Ghana to a Nigerian father, Bayelsa-native David and a Ghanaian mother, Norah, who died when Dakolo was thirteen. His grandmother Ateni Dakolo, who lived in Port Harcourt raised him, and he credits her as his early singing teacher. Although his parents came to take Dakolo to live with them in Lagos when he was three, Dakolo refused to leave his grandmother.[5][6] He has two younger siblings.

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, where Dakolo studied Communication Studies

Idols West Africa

In 2006, Dakolo auditioned for reality show Idols West Africa in Calabar. His songs of choice were Commissioned's More Than I and Lemar's Time to Grow. His vocals impressed the judges, and was seen as a contender for the prize.[6] A week before the viewing of the Top 24 performances, Dakolo received the news that his grandmother had died. A devout Christian, he turned to his faith for strength to pull through in the competition.

During his tenuture on the show, Dakolo was popular with voters, and was never in the bottom three. In the final weeks of the competition it was revealed by the producers of the show that Dakolo had the highest number of votes.

Idols West Africa Performances

After Idols

Since winning Idols West Africa, Dakolo has performed in high profile events like the African Movies Academy Awards 2008,[7][8] Red Cross Day in May 2008,[9] the Grand Finale of The Apprentice Africa in 2008, and Democracy Day Celebrations in Bayelsa State. He has also performed on the TV shows; Stars of the Future (2007) and Fash Football Challenge (2008) and the Starville Concert alongside Lil' Kim, Amerie, and Brick & Lace in 2007. He also featured on The Apprentice Africa in a performance at an event organised by the eventual winner of The Apprentice Africa, Isaac Dankyi-Koranteng as part of the final task of the show. His performance was featured on episode 17.[10]



Sometime in August 2009, Unisoul Sony Music, Germany claimed to have signed Timi Dakolo to their label. The label is yet to issue a formal press statement. Dakolo denies such an engagement in his press interviews. [11]

Trivia

  • His favourite colour is blue.
  • Timi Dakolo was shot at the lobby of the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt on New Years Day, January 1, 2008. He had gone to the hotel to attend a church service in the company of his friends. The attack was a random act of violence by a faction of Niger Delta militants and was not targeted at Timi. A hotel security guard was murdered in the attack. Timi, who escaped with a flesh wound, was rushed to the hospital, treated and discharged on the same day.[12]
  • Although he was born in Ghana, Dakolo does not claim dual citizenship; he holds a Nigerian passport.

References

  1. ^ The News, June 4, 2007. Finally, Timi Dakolo emerges as the first West African Idol. Retrieved on July 6, 2007 from http://www.thenewsng.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2862
  2. ^ Newswatch. Events 2007: Entertainment. Retrieved on December 17, 2008 from http://www.newswatchngr.com/editorial/allaccess/bob/11231113412.htm
  3. ^ Daily Independent, June 21, 2007. Rewards Pour in for Timi Dakolo. Retrieved on July 6, 2007 from http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=45&a=28919
  4. ^ MNet Africa, May 27, 2007. Timi Takes It. Retrieved on July 6, 2007 from http://www.mnetafrica.co.za/idols/news/default.asp?Id=167
  5. ^ a b Newswatch, June 4, 2007. A Star is Born. Retrieved on July 6, 2007 from http://www.newswatchngr.com/editorial/allaccess/bob/10604110445.htm
  6. ^ a b Timi Dakolo’s Profile from MNet Africa. Retrieved on July 6, 2007 from http://www.mnetafrica.co.za/idols/contestant/profile.asp?Id=13
  7. ^ How Nollywood stormed Abuja for AMAA from The Daily Sun. Retrieved on December 17, 2008 from http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showtime/2008/may/02/showtime-02-05-2008-001.htm
  8. ^ How Nollywood stormed Abuja for AMAA from The Nollywood Watch. Retrieved on December 17, 2008 from http://www.nollywoodwatch.com/african-movie-academy-awards-2008
  9. ^ Nigerian Red Cross Day from Official Red Cross Website. Retrieved on December 17, 2008 from http://www.redcrossng.org/world%20red%20cross%20day2.html
  10. ^ Episode 17 Recap from The Apprentice Africa Website. Retrieved on December 17, 2008 from http://www.theapprenticeafrica.com/newsdetail.php?id=53
  11. ^ Unchained melody from 234Next.com. Retrieved on December 22, 2009 from http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/x2/Entertainment/5498489-146/story.csp
  12. ^ Timi Dakolo Shot on New Year's Day from Ayeni The Great Blog. Retrieved on December 17, 2008 from http://ayenithegreat.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/timi-dakolo-shot-on-new-year-day

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Timi_Dakolo&oldid=346035425"