Timi Dakolo
Timi Dakolo |
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Timi Dakolo is a Nigerian singer.
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.
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 This claim is suspicious. Recently, people who know Dakolo claim he was never a registed student of University of Port Harcourt. He was squarting with a friend who was a student in the university and hence milled around the student population and started claiming what he was not. Artistes for Truth in Nigeria have called on Timi Dakolo to present documents showing that he was registered as an undergraduate in the University of Port Harcourt and studing mass communication. Dakolo has failed to respond to the call by Artistes for Truth. In an October 2009 interview, Dakolo falsely claimed to be a university graduate. Again, Artiste for Truth called him out.
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.[1] 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.
Controversies
Recently, people who know Dakolo claim he was never a registed student of University of Port Harcourt. He was squarting with a friend who was a student in the university and hence milled around the student population and started claiming what he was not. Artistes for Truth in Nigeria have called on Timi Dakolo to present documents showing that he was registered as an undergraduate in the University of Port Harcourt and studing mass communication.
It is reported that Pan African Entertainment the owners of the Idols WA franchise and the promoters of the Sony BMG contracts with Dakolo pulled out of the contract because of breache of contract on Timi Dakolo's part. [2]
Timi Dakolo is currently perceived as the wrongful winner of the Idols competition given his poor performance since winning the competition. His runner up, Omawumi Megbele has since released an album, topped the radio charts, and won several prestigious awards Hip Hop Awards) and nominated in The Future Awards. [3] Omawumi is the toast of the Nigerian music community has three videos on the air and performing at prestigious shows, while Timi Dakolo is battling with management crisis. Unable to sustain a management relationship with a reasonable period, Dakolo is seen as no-go by labels and artiste managers in Nigeria. His managers after winning Idols, 2ce as Nice (owners of the Idols WA franchise), have given numerous press interviews pointing to Dakolo's irresponsibility and unprofessionalism. Timi Dakolo's engagement with Zuri Entertainment barely lasted one year and Zuri Entertainment remains quiet on the relationship. Blogs report that Dakolo allegedly walked out on the contract failing to meet his obligations and continues to owe Zuri Entertainment substantial amounts of money even in light of his breache of the contract. He recently signed a management deal with Saphirre and Rubies Limited. As was predicted by industry watchers, Saphirre and Rubies run by Abimbola Ayorinde announced in March 2010, that they have dropped Dakolo from their management. Dakolo on the other hand on his twitter page alleges (http://twitter.com/dakolotimi) that Miss Abimbola Ayorinde, a fledging artiste manager, stole his money alongside being incompetent.
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. [4]
Trivia
- 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.[5]
- Although he was born in Ghana, Dakolo does not claim dual citizenship; he holds a Nigerian passport.
References
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Timisprofilewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Between Timi Dakolo, Pan African Entertainment and Zain from Sun News On-line. Retrieved on January 7, 2009 from http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/showpiece/2008/aug/31/showpiece-31-08-2008-002.htm
- ^ Omawunmi set to debut from Punch Online. Retrieved on January 7, 2009 from http://punchng.com/Article2Print.aspx?theartic=Art200910301282625
- ^ 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
- ^ 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