personality of the week

Name
Timi DakoloTimi Dakolo
Date of birth:
January 20, 1981(age 34)
Accra, Ghana
OriginBayelsa State, Nigeria
GenresSoul music
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocalsYears active2007–presentLabelsUnknownWebsitewww.timidakolo.comTimi Dakolo(born; January 20, 1981) is a Nigerian singer. He emerged winner of the inaugural season ofIdols West Africain 2007, at the expense of the amazingly talentedOmawumi Megbele. With his victory, he got a recording contract with Sony BMG, in addition to other prizes.Childhood/Early CareerTimi Dakolo was born inAccra,Ghanato a Nigerian father,Bayelsa-native David and a Ghanaian mother, Norah, who died when Dakolo was thirteen. Although he was born in Ghana, Timi does not claim dual citizenship and holds a Nigerianpassport. His grandmother Ateni Dakolo, who lived inPort Harcourtraised him, and he credits her as his early singing teacher. So deep was their relationship that Timi declined an offer to move to Lagos with his parents, opting to stay back in Port-harcourt with his grandmother.Timi started singing in church at the age of twelve. In 2003 he joined the singing groupPurple Loveas a founding member. They dominated the Port Harcourt club circuit, but disbanded in 2005 as all its members had gained admission into theUniversity of Port Harcourt. Around that same period, Timi won a local talent hunt contestG.E FACTOheld in Port Harcourt.Idols West AfricaIn 2006, Dakolo auditioned for reality show Idols West Africa inCalabar. His songs of choice were Commissioned'sMore Than IandLemar'sTime to Grow. His vocals impressed the judges, and was seen as a contender for the prize. A week before the viewing of the Top 24 performances, Dakolo received the news that his grandmother had died.Dakolo first auditioned in Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria with Commissioned's More Than I and Lemar's Time to Grow. [5] While in the competition, Timi Dakolo was never in the bottom 3. In the final three weeks of thecompetition it was revealed by the producers of the showthat Timi had the highest number of votes each of those weeks.While in the competition, Timi's grandmother died, a weekbefore 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 theUniversity of Port Harcourt.

www.iconrecords.blogspot.com

After IdolAfter winningIdol West Africain 2007, on January 1, 2008,on New Years Day, Timi Dakolo was shot at the lobby of the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt. He had gone to the hotel to attend a church service in the company of hisfriends. The attack was a random act of violence by a faction ofNiger Deltamilitants and did not target Timi. Although a hotel security guard was murdered in the attack, Timi escaped with a flesh wound, was rushed to the hospital, treated and discharged on the same day.[1]Timi Dakolo released his first single comprising three songs in October 2009.In 2011, he released the song "There's a Cry". The music video was filmed in Nigeria. He is currently signed with Lone Records/Now Muzik