Early Life

Timi Dakolo was born in Accra, Ghana, to a Nigerian father from Bayelsa, David, and a Ghanaian mother, Norah Kimmy Head, who tragically passed away when Timi was just thirteen years old.

Although born in Ghana, Timi holds a Nigerian passport and does not claim dual citizenship.

Raised in Port Harcourt by his grandmother, Ateni Dakolo, and his aunt, Susan Larry, Timi developed a deep connection with his aunt, who also became his early music mentor.

Their bond was so strong that Timi turned down an offer to move to Lagos with his parents, choosing instead to stay in Port Harcourt.

Timi began his musical journey at the age of twelve, singing in church. In 2003, he became a founding member of the singing group Purple Love, which ruled the Port Harcourt club scene before disbanding in 2005 as its members moved on to attend the University of Port Harcourt. During this time, Timi also won a local talent hunt contest, G.E FACTO, in Port Harcourt.

Career

In 2006, Timi Dakolo auditioned for the reality show Idols West Africa in Calabar, Nigeria. He impressed the judges with his renditions of Commissioned’s More Than I and Lemar’s Time to Grow.

Timi quickly became a standout contestant, never finding himself in the bottom three. In the final weeks, it was revealed that Timi received the highest number of votes each week.

Despite facing personal tragedy with the death of his grandmother just a week before the Top 24 performances aired, Timi turned to his Christian faith for strength and continued to perform at his best.

Before joining the competition, he was a Communication Studies student at the University of Port Harcourt.

After winning Idols West Africa in 2007, Timi faced a random act of violence on January 1, 2008, when he was shot at the lobby of the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt during a church service. Although the attack, carried out by a faction of Niger Delta militants, was not aimed at him, Timi was injured but managed to escape with a flesh wound.

He was treated and discharged the same day. Timi’s career took off with his debut single in 2009, and in 2011, he released There’s a Cry, which was filmed in Nigeria. Currently signed with Lone Records/Now Muzik, Timi Dakolo is also a judge on The Voice Nigeria.

In 2019, he released his Christmas album, Merry Christmas, Darling, featuring duets with artists like Emeli Sande and Kenny G.

Timi married Busola Dakolo in 2012, and the couple has three children together.

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