Timaya

Biography

Inetimi Alfred Odon (born 15 August 1980), known by his stage name Timaya, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He is from Sampou, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.Timaya is known for combining Nigerian pop with elements of dancehall, hip-hop and soca, as well as Afro-Caribbean/Dancehall music. He is the founder of DM (Dem Mama) Records Limited.
Timaya's solo career began in 2005 with the release of the single "Dem Mama," which is about the Odi massacre. His debut album, True Story×True StoryStudio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Intro2True Story3Timaya4Honey Na Money5Skit6Dem Mama7Pomporo ft. Tejang/Menthol X8Ogologomma ft. Papiurhobo9Bayelsa - Otu10Skit11Wayo People, was released the following year, and his second album, Gift and Grace, was released in 2008. His third studio album, De Rebirth×De Rebirth2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Thank You5:392Watta Bambam4:083Its About Time3:324Who Born U4:545E No Matter4:206Kpam Kpam Golo4:127Love Over Me4:008Money Money Money4:259Press4:3510Feeling So Fly3:2011Freestyle5:5612Happy Birthday3:2913Life Anagaga5:2314Ruler3:2715Plantain Boy3:2516Peke Peke4:0017Watta Bambam Instrumental4:11, was released in collaboration with Black Body Entertainment and featured the single "Plantain Boy". He collaborated with Dem Mama Soldiers on the album LLNP (Long Life N Prosperity), released in 2011. In 2012, Timaya released Upgrade. To date, his work has earned him four Headies Awards, two AFRIMMA Awards, one Nigeria Music Award, and one NEA Award.

Early life

Inetimi Alfred Odon was born on 15 August 1980, in Port Harcourt City, Rivers State, Nigeria. He grew up as the youngest of 15 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. His secondary education began at Nkpolu Oroworukwo in Port Harcourt, where he often broke house rules to attend late-night music events. After relocating to Lagos, he enrolled at Ikeja Grammar School where he obtained his secondary school certificate.
Timaya enrolled at the University of Port Harcourt, only to drop out after the first semester due to low grades, eventually moving back to Lagos to join Eedris Abdulkareem's hip-hop group as a backup vocalist. After three years with Eedris, Timaya left the group to pursue a solo career. He began collaborations with fellow new artists and made his first cameo appearance in an unreleased music video by UDX, a Lagos-based rap group. Subsequently, he met producer Obaksolo in Mafoluku, Oshodi, who produced his first major hit record, "Dem Mama", after hearing his a cappella performance. Timaya collaborated with Namse Udosen (Menthol X) on "Pomporo", a track on his debut album True Story×True StoryStudio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Intro2True Story3Timaya4Honey Na Money5Skit6Dem Mama7Pomporo ft. Tejang/Menthol X8Ogologomma ft. Papiurhobo9Bayelsa - Otu10Skit11Wayo People.

2005–2009: True Story, Gift and Grace, and De Rebirth

Timaya's solo career began in 2005 with the release of his debut single, "Dem Mama", which recounted the Odi massacre. The song appeared on his debut album, True Story×True StoryStudio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Intro2True Story3Timaya4Honey Na Money5Skit6Dem Mama7Pomporo ft. Tejang/Menthol X8Ogologomma ft. Papiurhobo9Bayelsa - Otu10Skit11Wayo People, released the following year to critical acclaim. His second album, Gift and Grace, was released in 2008, and was reportedly recorded in two weeks. His third studio album, De Rebirth×De Rebirth2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Thank You5:392Watta Bambam4:083Its About Time3:324Who Born U4:545E No Matter4:206Kpam Kpam Golo4:127Love Over Me4:008Money Money Money4:259Press4:3510Feeling So Fly3:2011Freestyle5:5612Happy Birthday3:2913Life Anagaga5:2314Ruler3:2715Plantain Boy3:2516Peke Peke4:0017Watta Bambam Instrumental4:11, was released in partnership with Black Body Entertainment. This album featured the hit single "Plantain Boy".

2010–2017: Upgrade, Epiphany, Bum Bum Remix, and Grammy nomination

In 2010, Timaya was featured on the song "Kokoroko" by the late female gospel artist Kefee, which won the Best Collaboration category at the 2010 Headies Awards. On 25 June 2012, Timaya released another album titled Upgrade×Upgrade31 May 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Sexy Ladies3:382Molonogede3:133Go Down Low3:294Bobby4:265I Am Sorry3:556Bum Bum3:397Bolanle4:198Love & Friend3:579Illuminati3:5910I Have It3:2611Club on Fire3:4212Be My Honey3:2413All the Way3:2814Good Life4:09, which spawned hits like "Bum Bum", "Sexy Ladies", and "Malonogede". The album featured collaborations with Attitude, Terry G, and Vector. Duncan Mighty and Timaya dueted on "I Know I Know Dat", which leaked onto the internet a few hours after Duncan Mighty's album Footprints was released in stores. Both artists were honored at the fourth annual Odudu Music Awards, alongside M-Trill, Sodi Cookey, Becky Enyioma, and Timi Dakolo.
On 25 September 2014, Timaya released his fifth studio album titled Epiphany×Epiphany10 October 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Bow Down3:242Sanko3:093Lai Lai3:434Love (My Baby)3:485Gbagam3:076Bad Man Tin4:187Its Allowed3:388Girls Dem3:299Happy3:5010Dance Hall King2:3711Bother Me4:0012Pain3:2413Overflow3:2914Behind Me3:3415Eshe3:3016Hold Me Now2:4717Ukwu3:1018Ekoloma Demba3:2719Bom Bom (remix)3:3620Appreciation2:53. It featured 20 tracks, being preceded by "Bow Down" and "Sanko", and 4 bonus tracks, "Ekoloma Demba", "Ukwu", "Hold Me Now" and "Bum Bum Remix" featuring Sean Paul. Outside of those, the album also included collaborations with 2Face Idibia, Patoranking, Olamide, Sir Shina Peters, Deetii, Phyno, and Terry G. The track listing for Epiphany was released on 15 September 2014. On the cover, Timaya is dressed like a Roman Catholic figure, in a cassock with a rosary, posing with a slight wink and his hands together. Al Yhusuff of tooXclusive said Epiphany met Timaya's core audience, calling it "Ukwu-phany" because of the many "bum-bum songs" and noting that it "doesn't fall below par," giving it a rating of 3 out of 5.
In 2017, Timaya performed in Nassau, where he headlined the first Afro-Soca concert. In 2018, he received his first Grammy nomination in the Best Reggae Album category. He was featured on Avrakedabra, an album by Morgan Heritage on the track titled "Reggae Night (Global Remix)". Timaya established his record label, DM Records Limited, which became home to artists like Patoranking and Runtown. In 2017, he signed the young dancehall/Afro-fusion artist King Perryy and producer Killertunes to the DM Records imprint. On 21 January 2019, he collaborated with KCee on the song "Erima."

2019–2020: Chulo Vibes and Gratitude

After five years of releasing singles, albums, and touring, Timaya released an EP titled Chulo Vibes×Chulo Vibes8 February 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Balance3:042The Mood2:423Pull Up3:174Akuna3:165Number One3:126Obrigado3:457I Can’t Kill Myself3:168Happy3:349Stoopid3:21. This project featured collaborations with Tanzanian artist Alikiba, Trinidadian Soca legend Machel Montano, and Nigerian Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy. His sixth solo studio album, Gratitude×Gratitude18 November 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Born to Win2:542Iberibe3:203Don Dada3:284Something Must to Kill a Man3:065No Limit3:166The Mood2:427Chulo Bother Nobody3:358Okaka2:579Gra Gra3:2310Local N Bougie3:1211Ebiola Papa4:0212L.O.V.E.3:2913The Light4:0514I Can’t Kill Myself3:1615Buru2:38, was released in 2020. The album included singles such as "Balance", "I Can't Kill Myself", "Gra Gra", "Don Dada", and "Born To Win" respectively.

2023–present: Gladiator

In 2023, Timaya's 2022 release, "Sweet Us", became a national hit and an anthem for the 2023 general elections, after he reached an agreement with Nyesom Wike's band leader, Bamidele, who was the original creator of the song's chorus.
In 2024, Timaya released Gladiator, his eighth-studio album. During a discussion with African Folder's Ukpeme Udoh, Timaya stated that his life's challenges inspired the album.

Honours

The Inter-Religious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP) appointed Timaya as a peace ambassador in 2011.

Albums

True Story (2007)
Gift And Grace (2008)
De Rebirth (2010)
LLNP Long Life N' Prosperity (2011)
Upgrade (2012)
Epiphany (2014)
Gratitude (2020)
Gladiator (2024)

Music collaborations

Cold Outside feat BNXN
Bum Bum remix feat Sean Paul
Pull Up feat Burna Boy
Malonogede feat Terry G
Life Anagaga – MI feat Timaya.
Reggae Night – Morgan Heritage feat Timaya & others.
Kokoroko – Kefee feat Timaya
O Pari – DJ Shawn feat Timaya & Falz
Alubarika – Patoranking feat Timaya.
Waje featuring Timaya – kpolongo.