Nigerian singer Timi Dakolo has opened up about his journey into professional music, reflecting on how his passion evolved over time. Known for his soulful anthem “Great Nation,” Dakolo shared his story during a recent appearance on the “On The Record” podcast.
He revealed that music initially served as a hobby and not something he considered a career path. However, his perspective changed after winning the first season of Idols West Africa in 2007, a moment that marked the turning point in his life. The victory not only launched his music career but also gave him a platform to inspire others through his unique voice and meaningful lyrics.
Since then, Timi Dakolo has become one of Nigeria’s most celebrated vocalists, known for his emotive delivery and thought-provoking songs. His story is a testament to the transformative power of recognizing and pursuing one’s passion.
He remarked:
“I still see myself as an accidental musician. Yeah, I used to sing in choir. I used to just like that I sang. The first idea of music was during morning devotion.
“Then, we started singing street songs. We used to have notebooks where we write songs and they were girls to impress. So music was not something I thought I would do professionally. It was after Idols that I decided to do music professionally.
“I said to myself, ‘Okay, we are here. Sometimes you meet your destiny on the road you take to avoid it.”
Additionally, Timi Dakolo shared the story of how he met his wife of 12 years, Busola Dakolo.
In a recent interview with Pulse, Timi revealed that he first met his wife at church, where they developed a friendship that eventually blossomed into a romantic relationship.
The artist, known for his hit “Iyawo Mi,” also mentioned that at the time, he was driving the car he had won from a music talent competition. It is worth noting that Timi Dakolo was the winner of the inaugural season of Idols West Africa in 2007. The vehicle he received from the show was a Picanto, which he used to transport Busola, who was then his girlfriend.
At one point, Busola requested that the 43-year-old refrain from parking in front of her Zenith Bank office, as it caused her embarrassment.