Timi Dakolo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Timi Dakolo | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 20, 1981 |
| Origin | Bayelsa State, Nigeria |
| Genre(s) | Soul, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Label(s) | Sony BMG |
| Website | www.timidakolo.com |
Timi Dakolo is a Nigerian singer and the winner of the first season of Idols West Africa. He was declared the winner on May 26, 2007 at the home of Idols, Planet One. [1] The show was televised the next day. He beat out runner-up, Omawumi Megbele with 63% of the votes. With his victory, he took home many prizes including a recording contract with Sony BMG. [2] [3] [4]
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[edit] Childhood
Dakolo was born on January 20, 1981 in Accra, Ghana to a Nigerian father, David Dakolo and a Ghanaian mother, Norah Dakolo (nee Danso). His father is from Bayelsa State. His mother died when he was thirteen years old. When Dakolo was three months old, his parents took him to live with his grandmother, Ateni Dakolo in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. When he was three years old, they came to take him to live with them in their new home in Lagos, Timi refused to follow them. They left him with his grandmother, who raised him. His grandmother taught him how to sing.[5] [4] Timi has two younger siblings.
[edit] Time on Idols
Dakolo first auditioned in Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria with Lemar's Time to Grow. [5]
While in the competition, Timi Dakolo was never in the bottom 3. In the final three weeks of the competition it was revealed by the producers of the show that Timi had the highest number of votes each of those weeks.
While in the competition, Timi's grandmother died, a week before the viewing of the Top 24 performances. This was a big emotional blow to him. At that time, he turned to his Christian faith for strength to pull through in the competition. Before going to Idols West Africa, Timi was a student of Communication Studies in the University of Port Harcourt (Same University with Miss World 2001, Agbani Darego). He had earlier won a local talent hunt contest G.E FACTO held in Port Harcourt.
[edit] Idols West Africa Performances
- Top 24 - It Must Have Been Love (Roxette)
- Top 10 - Dance with My Father (Luther Vandross)
- Top 9 - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Diana Ross).
- Top 8 - Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Elton John).
- Top 7 - Stuck on You (Lionel Richie)
- Top 6 - Oruka (Sunny Nneji).
- Top 5 - Flying Without Wings (Ruben Studdard) and How Am I Supposed to Live Without You (Michael Bolton).
- Top 4 - Faith (George Michael) and Gimme the Night (George Benson).
- Top 3 - If There Were Any Justice (Lemar) and Everything I Do (Bryan Adams).
[edit] Trivia
- Timi Dakolo's favourite songs are Caroline by Lemar and To Love Somebody by Michael Bolton.
- 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.
- Though he was born in Ghana and his mother was from Ghana, Timi Dakolo does not claim dual citizenship. He holds a Nigerian passport.
[edit] References
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
- ^ 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
