Timi Dakolo talks on how he Makes its Money.

Contrary to popular opinion, Timi Dakolo is one of the richest Nigerian music stars today. Though he doesn't make noise about his riches, many assume he is not in that league especially since you can hardly find his name on major shows. But in an interview with NET, Timi acknowledges that though he doesn't play big shows, he makes his money from private events and corporate events. And yes! he charges them big. He also opened up about growing up - how he hawked plantain chips and pure water on the streets of Port Harcourt. Find what he said when you hit the continue button...

On growing up in Port Harcourt...  

I grew up with my grandmother in Port Harcourt. I grew up to know that my grandmother was my only parent. She used to have a shop at Mile 3 market in Port Harcourt. After school, I would join her at the market. I hawked pure water, plantain chips etc. I did a lot of hustling as a young boy. But the truth is, what I went through while growing up made me who I am today, the experience taught me that hard work pays. 

Asked how he makes his morning seeing that he doesn't play major shows and yet lives in his own house in Lekki with a garage housing latest automobiles. 

I make my money from shows. Because you don’t see me on these publicised music concerts doesn’t mean I don’t get shows. I make money performing at corporate events. I get paid well for performing at birthday and private parties.

Asked if its true that his mum is a Ghanaian? 

Yeah, my mum is a Ghanaian; I was even born in Ghana, Accra precisely. My Ghanaian name is Kwabna, meaning that I was born on Tuesday. I was born at the Legon Teaching Hospital. I have relatives in Ghana, my grandparents and my cousins are in Ghana. Do you speak any Ghanaian language then? No, I don’t. I came back to Nigeria 9 months after my birth. I grew up in Port Harcourt.

On why he has remianed true to his style of music...

Trust me, I am a very stubborn person. I have been a rigid person right from childhood. If I am doing a wrong thing, I can make you believe it is right. I was brought up to believe in what I feel is right for me. My grandma used to tell me that: ‘when you have an idea and nobody believes in it, trust me everybody can be wrong. Your idea might just be right, but you have not sold it enough for them to buy.’ When I say this is the kind of music I want to do people were like ‘it won’t sell in Nigeria’ but I believe good music will sell regardless of the style you use, the message is what will sell it. It is easier to do less publicity for good music, you don’t really need to force people to listen to it, once it’s good, it will fly. So I have always known people will accept my music.

On when he started doing music...

It started after Idols competition, trust me. I wasn’t doing music before then. Even during the competition, I never knew I could get anywhere. I was always like who will vote for me? I felt I couldn’t get to the final because nobody knew me. But I was hoping to be back every week so that I can eat free food and enjoy the air-conditioner. But along the line I realised that I have this connection with people when I am singing. So I said to myself, what is worth doing is worth doing well. At a point, I began to put effort and I was rehearsing as if my life depended on it and I found myself in the final and I won. 

On his big break...

The big break didn’t come immediately after Idol. Despite that fact that I won the competition, it was very tough for me when I started my career. I had problems such that I didn’t know my left from right. It was very tough for me and winning the competition put a huge pressure on me, people were expecting me to hit the ground running but nothing was happening. I wasn’t releasing songs; I didn’t even know where to go from there. I later met Cobhams, I told him I may not have money to pay you now but I will pay you someday, let’s start making music and that was how my story changed.