# Timaya

Inetimi Alfred Odon (born 15 August 1980), also referred to by his stage name Timaya, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter. Being from Odi, 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, was released the following year, and his second album, Gift and Grace, was released in 2008. His third studio album, De Rebirth, 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 2021. And 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 August 15, 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.

## Career
### 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, released the following year to critical acclaim. His second album, Gift and Grace, was released in 2008. His third studio album, De Rebirth, 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 female gospel artist Kefee, which won the Best Collaboration category at the 2010 Headies Awards. On June 25, 2012, Timaya released another album titled Upgrade, 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.
In 2014, Timaya released his fifth studio album titled Epiphany. The album featured 20 tracks, including global hits such as "Bum Bum Remix" featuring Dancehall A-Lister Sean Paul, "Sanko", and "Ukwu". It also included collaborations with 2Baba Idibia, Patoranking, Olamide, Sir Shina Peters, Deethi, Phyno, and Terry G.
In 2017, Timaya performed in Nassau, where he headlined the first-ever 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. Later, 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. 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, 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.

## Discography
### 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)

### Extended plays

* Chulo Vibes (2019)

### Selected singles

| Year | Title | Album |
| 2024 | Mase | Non-Album Single |
| 2024 | "In My Head" (featuring Tiwa Savage) | Non-Album Single |
| 2023 | "Tomato" | Non-Album Single |
| 2022 | "Charger" | |
| 2021 | "Cold Outside" (featuring Bnxn FKA Buju) | |
| 2021 | "Eff All Day" (featuring Phyno) | |
| 2019 | "2 Stoopid" | Non-album single |
| 2019 | "I Can't Kill Myself" | Chulo Vibes |
| 2019 | "Balance" | Chulo Vibes |
| 2018 | "Kom Kom" (featuring King Perry and Patoranking) | Non-album single |
| 2018 | "Bam Bam" (featuring Olamide) | Non-album single |
| 2018 | "Ah Blem Blem" (Electric Bodega Remix) | Non-album single |
| 2018 | "To U" | Non-album single |
| 2018 | "Ah Blem Blem" | Non-album single |
| 2018 | "Telli Person" (featuring Olamide and Phyno) | Non-album single |
| 2017 | "Dance" (featuring Rudeboy) | Non-album single |
| 2017 | "I Like the Way" (Electric Bodega Remix) | Non-album single |
| 2017 | "Pity 4 Us" | Non-album single |
| 2017 | "Woyo" | Non-album single |
| 2017 | "Who Born You" | Non-album single |
| 2016 | "Money" (featuring Flavour) | Non-album single |
| 2016 | "Bang Bang" | Non-album single |
| 2016 | "I Like the Way" | Non-album single |
| 2015 | "Some More" | Non-album single |
| 2015 | "Amayanabo" | Non-album single |
| 2015 | "I Concur" | Non-album single |
| 2014 | "Ukwu" | Non-album single |
| 2014 | "Sanko" | |
| 2014 | "Lai Lai" | Epiphany |
| 2014 | "Gbagam" | Epiphany |
| 2014 | "Bow Down" | Epiphany |
| 2014 | "Ekoloma Demba" | Epiphany |

## Videography

| Year | Title | Director |
| 2012 | Malonogede | Gini |
| 2012 | Bum Bum | Clarence Peters |
| 2012 | Sexy Ladies | Clarence Peters |
| 2014 | Ekoloma Demba | Matt Max |
| 2014 | Watta Bam Bam | Godfather Productions |
| 2014 | Ukwu | Moe Musa |
| 2014 | Bum Bum Remix | Shuta Films |
| 2014 | Bow Down | Unlimited L.A |
| 2014 | Sanko | Unlimited L.A |
| 2014 | Gbagam | Clarence Peters |
| 2015 | Hallelujah | Matt Max |
| 2015 | Some More | Uprooted Media |
| 2015 | Hallelujah | Matt Max |
| 2015 | I Concur | Clarence Peters |
| 2015 | I Like The Way | UpRooted Media |
| 2015 | Money | Clarence Peters |
| 2016 | Bang Bang | Patrick Elis |
| 2016 | Woyo | Unlimited L.A |
| 2016 | Dance | Clarence Peters |
| 2017 | Telli Person | Clarence Peters |
| 2018 | Ah Blem Blem | Clarence Peters |
| 2018 | To U | Unlimited L.A |
| 2018 | Bam Bam | Unlimited L.A |
| 2018 | Kom Kom | Unlimited L.A |
| 2019 | Balance | Unlimited L.A |
| 2019 | I Can't Kill Myself | Director K |
| 2019 | 2 Stoopid | TG Omori |
| 2021 | Cold Outside | TG Omori |
| 2023 | Tomato | Clarence Peters |
| 2024 | Dey Your Dey | Masterkraft |
| 2024 | In My Head featuring Tiwa Savage | Director Pink |
| 2024 | Blessings Dey Come way | Masterkraft |

## Awards and nominations

* Afrotainment-Museke Online African Music Awards
** 2011: Best Afro-Dancehall song, "Plantain Boy" (Won)
* Nigeria Music Awards
** 2008: Album of the Year, True Story (Won)
* The Headies
** 2008: Best Reggae/Dancehall Album, True Story (Won)
** 2009: Best Reggae/Dancehall Album, Gift and Grace (Won)
** 2009: Best Collaboration, "Good or Bad" (with J. Martins and P-Square) (Won)
** 2009: Artiste of the Year (Nominated)
** 2010: Best Collaboration, "Kokoroko" (with Kefee) (Won)
* Nigeria Entertainment Awards
** 2014: Indigenous Artist of the Year (Nominated)
* AFRIMMA
** Afrimma 2015 Best Dancehall Artist (Nominated)
** Afrimma 2016 Best Dancehall Act of the Year (Nominated)
** Afrimma 2017 Dancehall Act of the Year (Won)
** Afrimma 2018 Best African Reggae/Dancehall Act (Nominated)
* Grammy 2018
** Morgan Heritage's Reggae Night (Global Remix) off the album Avrakedabra

## Tours

* 2021 – Timaya US Tour.
* 2019 – Timaya Chulo Vibes Europe Tour.
* 2018 – Timaya Live in Canada.
* 2017 – Timaya US Tour.

## 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.