Long before he commanded stages across Africa, Timaya—real name Inetimi Alfred Odon—was just a dreamer with a distinct voice and a burning will to rise above his circumstances.
His story isn’t just another “grass to grace” tale. It’s a thunderous testament to grit, vision, and the music of survival.
Street Choir to Solo Flame
Growing up in Port Harcourt, Timaya’s path was anything but straight. He cut his teeth in the music scene as a backup singer for Nigerian music heavyweight Eedris Abdulkareem, grinding for three years in the background. That grind, however, lit a fire. When Timaya stepped into the spotlight with producer K-Solo, he didn’t just come to make music—he came to shake tables.
His debut single, “Dem Mama”, didn’t just entertain; it informed. The track chronicled the brutal Odi massacre, a raw, fearless narrative that quickly set him apart. That single became the heartbeat of his first album, True Story (2007), and it wasn’t long before the streets knew his name.
The ₦500K Gamble That Paid Off
But creating an album is one thing—selling it in a skeptical market is another. Timaya learned that lesson the hard way in the bustling music hub of Alaba International Market. Marketers turned him down flat, with one insulting offer of ₦50,000 for the whole album. It was a moment that could break a lesser man.
Instead, it built him.
Finally, Danco Music saw what others missed. They took a chance, buying True Story for ₦500,000—a modest deal that would later prove to be one of the most profitable investments in Nigerian music folklore. Timaya poured every naira into promoting the project and securing a humble apartment. The hustle continued—louder, fiercer.
₦24 Million and a Star Reborn
The streets responded. The fans followed. And the industry began to pay attention.
By the time he dropped his sophomore album, Gift and Grace (2008), Timaya wasn’t just a local act—he was a cultural voice. The album’s sale price? A jaw-dropping ₦24 million. In just one year, the boy who had hawked his sound for crumbs became a top-tier name with platinum dreams.
Legacy of a Survivor
Today, Timaya isn’t just celebrated for his hits. He’s revered for his hustle. From giving out free CDs on street corners to performing sold-out shows across continents, his story inspires a new generation of Nigerian artists to fight for their voice—and their value.
More than anything, Timaya is living proof that sometimes, all it takes is one believer, one bold record, and a refusal to quit when the world says “no.”
From ₦500K to ₦24M, Timaya didn’t just change his own life—he helped rewrite the script for what’s possible in the Nigerian music industry.
