Timi Dakolo Biography: Education, Career, Family, Songs, Awards, and Net Worth

Timi Dakolo is a singer, songwriter, and music producer from Nigeria. In 2007, he was crowned champion of the inaugural season of Idols West Africa. Many of his hit songs have earned him a slew of prizes and global acclaim.

Early Life & Education

Timi Dakolo was born in Accra, Ghana, on January 20, 1981, to a Nigerian father, David, and a Ghanaian mother, Norah Kimmy Head, who died when Dakolo was thirteen. Timi, despite being born in Ghana, has always claimed Nigeria. In Port Harcourt, he was nurtured by his grandmother, Ateni Dakolo, and auntie, Susan Larry, and he counts his auntie as his first singing teacher. Timi rejected down an invitation to go to Lagos with his buddies, preferring to stay in Port Harcourt with them.

Timi began singing at church when he was twelve years old. He was a founding member of the musical group Purple Love in 2003. They dominated the Port Harcourt club circuit until disbanding abruptly in 2005. He graduated from the University of Port Harcourt with a degree in Communication Studies. He went on to study songwriting after winning West African Idols in order to pursue a career as a songwriter.

Career

Idols West Africa

Dakolo tried out for the reality show Idols West Africa in Calabar, Nigeria’s Cross River State, in 2006. His vocals wowed the judges, and he was predicted to win. Timi Dakolo was never in the tournament’s bottom three. According to the show’s producers, Timi garnered the most votes in each of the final three weeks of the competition. Timi’s grandmother died a week before the competition’s Top 24 performances were to be viewed. This was a significant emotional setback for him.

After Idols West Africa

Timi Dakolo released his first single, a three-track EP, in October 2009. In 2011, he released “There’s a Cry,” a song. Muzik is his record label of choice right now. Timi Dakolo is a judge on The Voice Nigeria. Timi Dakolo released “Merry Christmas, Darling,” a Christmas album with guest duets from Emeli Sandé and Kenny G, in November 2019.

Personal Life

Escaped Death

Timi Dakolo was shot on January 1, 2008, on New Year’s Day, in the lobby of the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt, after winning Idol West Africa in 2007. He and a group of buddies went to the hotel to attend a religious ceremony. Timi was not targeted in the attack, which was carried out at random by a group of Niger Delta rebels. Despite the fact that a hotel security guard was slain in the attack, Timi escaped with only a flesh wound and was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released the next day.

Marital Life

In 2012, Timi Dakolo got married to Busola Dakolo. The marriage is blessed with three children.

Songs

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 & Nominations

Net Worth

According to multiple but unverified sources, Timi Dakolo’s net worth is estimated at $2.1 million.