In about two decades, Inetimi Alfred Odon musically stamped as Timaya has been part of the Nigerian music industry’s struggle, striving to be heard, staying original, being relentless, blending lyrics and beats to dish out resounding afro dancehall echoes, getting famous, picking nominations and awards, headlining shows and tours, being grateful, and becoming a gladiator with no signs of slowing down.
The music icon recalls the golden era of Nigerian music, a time when his hits blared from street corners, barber shops, birthday parties, and beyond. Back then, the beats were raw and straightforward. Yet, through it all, Egberi Papa has kept his sound vibrant, even as the music industry and fan culture have shifted into the digital age—where streaming platforms, music reviews, and parasocial relationships now dominate and shape the scene.
Timaya stands out as one of the counted music artists who focuses on telling stories rather than just sounds and beats, combining Nigerian pop with elements of dancehall, hip-hop, and soca, as well as Afro-Caribbean. Papi Chulo’s style of sound has been pivotal in the significant traction afro-fusion has gained today. He occupies a unique position as one of the first mainstream Nigerian artists to have begun the wave.
With a ninth studio album—a survival manifesto wrapped in rhythm and testifying of an enduring music legacy—the Niger Delta-rooted maestro shares with African Folder an insight into being a gladiator.
From the bathroom to the world
The Nigerian music icon and afro-dancehall legend has weaned his need to be heard through singing from childhood—singing in the bathroom to a church choir boy up to the peak of global tour awards and lots more.
This is the most beautiful video I have seen all day. A young Timaya sings a song in acapella. pic.twitter.com/OL9AhUVDQe
— Isima (@IsimaOdeh) September 7, 2017
“You know those people that used to sing in the bathroom, and you feel that you can sing, I can say, yeah,” he giggled.
In 2005, the journey of saying it through my music was louder for the singer and songwriter with the release of his debut single, Dem Mama, which recounted the massacre in his community of Odi. The song appeared on his debut album, True Story.
Among all the OGs, I’m the most consistent; I can brag about that.
He said, “I just needed to be heard, because most times when I have something to say, I don’t just say it. I just say through my music, you understand, So that’s like my freedom of expression.”
Timaya gained further visibility and international prominence with his third studio album, Rebirth, released in partnership with Black Body Entertainment and featuring the lead single Plantain Boy. The album was commercially successful, dominating the airwaves within and outside Nigeria.
In 2010, the Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa was featured on the song Kokoroko by the female gospel artist Kefee, which went on to win in the Best Collaboration category at the 2010 Headies Awards. Before 2017, when the singer headlined and performed at the first-ever Afro-Soca concert in Nassau, and 2018 when he received his first Grammy nomination in the Best Reggae Album category, the name Timaya was a household name in the music industry and a force to reckon with in airplay and party jams.
With an enduring legacy spanning about two decades, the afro-fusion legend has recorded and released evergreen hip hop, dancehall and ragga sounds, party jams, club takeovers and memorable songs, winning awards, like the Album of the Year at the 2008 Nigeria Music Awards (True Story), the Headies Best Reggae/Dancehall Album in 2008 and 2009 (True Story and Gift and Grace respectively), Afrimma 2017 Dancehall Act of the Year and many others, collaborated with A-listers, hitmakers and newbies including Sean Paul, 2face Idibia, Terry G, Olamide, Phyno, King Perry, Patoranking, BNXN and many others, won the heart of music lovers, raised a fan base headlined international tours and hit streaming numbers.
“It has been very wonderful because I’m part of the struggle. So it’s real. It feels very, very good, it has not been easy, but it feels good. I have been my own boss,” he said.
Timaya: Self-boss
“When you say you’ve been your own boss, what do you mean?” This writer enquires.
“I’ve been my own boss, running my own record label. It’s not easy. It takes a lot; it takes devotion, focus, and courage. Sometimes you think this one is going to work, but it does not. You just keep going,” answered Timaya.
In Timaya’s upcoming days, getting sponsors and recording deals was no easy cake, but for the love and passion to sing and be heard, the multiple-award-winning singer defied odds and unfilled promises to build longevity and started Dem Mama Records, a label that mastered the Gift and Grace album in 2008, and many other projects, had TJ 2solo, Wrecoba, and Allen as Dem Mama Soljas, and signed King Perry. The ace music artist points out that commitment and consistency against all odds are key amongst other factors, as one needs to embrace change, strategise, and restrategise in being self-boss.
It has been very wonderful because I’m part of the struggle. So it’s real. It feels very, very good; it has not been easy, but it feels good. I have been my own boss.
In responding to my question about Dem Mama Soljas, Timaya said, “You know, growth, people can’t be the same way. Wrecoba is in Norway, Allen is in America, then TJ is in Nigeria. Everybody’s scattered. Everybody got to look for what to eat, (smiles).”
The label boss sheds up-and-coming artists who are looking out for quick and instant fame and advises against drugs.
“These days dem no dey advise person again o! Some of these new artists want it now now, and they go for now now, and they really get it now now, they start going through a lot. To build longevity it takes time. [sic]”
“Drug is not an option; it is an illusion; it is a bad thing. It is never good for anybody,” he added.
Timaya: Afrobeats’ Gladiator
In a 13-track triumphant ode, the music icon blends his legendary dancehall sound with hip-hop and afrobeats to deliver a rhythmic manifesto of survival.
This writer enquired, “Why the title Gladiator?”
“Because that’s who I am; I’ve been fighting mehnn; I’m a fighter. I keep going; I never stop. It’s not everything I talk about for people to know I go through stuff, but that’s life; I keep going,” he responded.
The Gladiator album reflects Papi Chulo’s journey from scratch to fame and the future ahead. Tracks like Blessings, Free, and Lifestyle Treasure re-echoes personally for the singer. With punchy hip-hop drums in Payback, the singer looks back at his humble beginnings and the challenges he overcame to become successful. On Sweet Us, a sound that has been a national anthem, especially in last year’s electioneering process, Timaya sends a farewell to haters on a bright nostalgic dancehall beat.
Because that’s who I am; I’ve been fighting mehn; I’m a fighter. I keep going; I never stop. It’s not everything I talk about for people to know I go through stuff, but that’s life; I keep going.
Collaborating with industry giant Olamide, afrobeats queen Tiwa Savage, and Indigenous rap king Phyno, among others, with a return production spearheaded by Young D, the album renders bursting and vibrant rhythms blended with infectious melodies in a masterful of dancehall, soca, afrobeats, and hip-hop, showcasing Timaya’s versatility and proving his significant figure in Africa and global music.
Life, Religion, and Philosophy
A common feature of Timaya’s lifestyle is a fashionable dress sense and a conscious closeness to God, which are prominent in his music lyrics, media conversations, and social media activity.
My life is my career; a native doctor is a native doctor forever. Does a doctor retire? Sometimes the career pops and sometimes it does not. People are quick to say he has fallen, maybe because an artist has not done a song for a while. That’s life sometimes.
The Port Harcourt-born and Bayelsa-rooted music maestro has delivered and performed a good number of records that can be safely tagged as gospel songs: Ogologoma, God I Beg, God You’re Too Much, Hallelujah, Bow Down, Blessings, and others. This writer raised a conversation following this brief and a recent social media comment on a clergy, Apostle Suleman.
Apostle Sulaiman too LIE.
— Timaya (@timayatimaya) August 31, 2024
He said, “Noooo, yeah, his response stressed I didn’t want to speak, but that was too much. Yes, it’s not my business to speak about another man, but I’ll tell you I’m a Christian. Okay, feel me. I have the right to protect what I believe, so you don’t make Christianity look like a joke. I believe in God so much. I’m a winner. David Oyedepo is my pastor.
The singer recalls his roots of being a Christian, singing and performing gospel songs even in his latest body of work.
In compiling a list of long-standing, way-back, and still-singing artists, Timaya gets a top spot. He has remained an essential and unyielding force in global music. The music icon is a testament to relentlessness, consistency, originality, and artistic evolution.
Papi Chulo gave a quick displeased response to my closing interrogation on thoughts of slowing down or retiring.
He said, “My life is my career; a native doctor is a native doctor forever. Does a doctor retire? Sometimes the career pops and sometimes it does not. People are quick to say he has fallen, maybe because an artist has not done a song for a while. That’s life sometimes.
The Jamaican and Caribbean are still singing for over twenty years, but in Nigeria, they’ll talk about retiring this and that.”
“Among all the OGs, I’m the most consistent; I can brag about that,” he added.
Timaya has solidified his place as one of Africa’s most enduring and influential musicians. He brags about being the most consistent among the OGs. He continues to inspire, uplift, and empower his listeners, proving his towering figure in African music and the global music landscape at large.
