Entertainment

Why Timaya Dumped MTN Contract Renewal Offer

Published

11 years ago

June 12, 2015

Timaya

Bayelsa State- born
Dance Hall Music Star, Timaya, has revealed why he dumped MTN contract renewal offer. In a recent post on the social media, he said, “I have always wanted to become an ambassador to a telecommunication company. I was approached by both Globacom and MTN, I chose MTN, I am a businessman and I feel I should have a better deal this year, if the deal is not good enough for me then it is not right, because I worked very hard to get to the stage I am”.
“It could be right for other people, but I think I should do better this year. There are artistes that are brand ambassadors and they do not have any hit, song, they are just there based on pity. Every year I release a hit song and I feel if we are to renew a contract, we have to revisit the terms and conditions. Not that we will do the same thing as the last time or do it out of pity,” he stated.
He said, “being a brand ambassador makes you limited in some certain areas and I expect to be paid for such limitations, I want more, they are good people and we did not have any misunderstanding, it was purely a business decision.”
Though he did not disclose how much he was paid for the first contract or what he was offered for the renewal of the contract, it was gathered that the first contract was worth millions of naira.
It would be recalled that the hip hop and Dance hall music sensation who was born and bred in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, is among the music stars and celebrities who rose from grass to grace.
Also known as the Egberi Papa I (the peoples town crier) of Bayelsa State was born in November 29, 1977 in Port Harcourt, the award winning musician is popular for his socially conscious music that constantly references the role of God in overcoming difficult circumstances in life. He has written and produced a music track for YouTube star, Janet Holt and Eulonzo Jordan.
He started out with a couple of collaborations with some underground artistes and was a backup singer for Eedris Abdulkareen. His first major hit was the song, “Dem Mama” an account of the 1999 destruction of Odi, a riverine community in the oil producing Niger Delta by soldiers hunting down militants whom were alleged to have killed 8 policemen. The village was burnt and numerous people killed. Timaya bravely tackled the topic years later and won instant street credibility for his boldness.
Timaya is currently one of the top stars of the Nigerian music scene with a lot of other musicians interested in doing collaborations with him, he had done collabo with J. Martins and P-Square, Keffe on ‘Kokoroko’, Spyderman and others. His albums include: “True story,” (2007), “Gift and Grace” (2008),. The Rebirth 2010, Long Life and Prosperity, (2011), “Bow Down”, ‘Sanko’, “Bum-Bum”, ft Scan Paul, ‘Story’, Hold me Down’ amongst others.
His awards include: African Hip-Hop Award, (2008, 2009), Album of the year, Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) (2008), Best Dance Hall Album, Hip-Hop World Awards (2009). This year, he bought himself 2015 model Lexus SUV to add to his fleet of expensive cars.

Entertainment

Why Fans No Longer Faint For Musicians – Paul Okoye

Published

3 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Nigerian singer and half of the defunct P-Square duo, Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy, has claimed that social media has reduced the prestige and value fans attached to musicians due to the mystique that artistes had before the era of social media.
Speaking in a recent interview with Lun Lifestyle TV, Rudeboy argued that social media, despite all its benefits, has shattered the illusion of artistes being mysterious and godlike.
This he said has reduced the buzz artistes previously enjoyed whenever their fans got the opportunity to see them whether physically or visually.
The ‘Reason With Me’ crooner explained that because artistes are no longer mysterious, fans are no longer eager to watch them in music videos.
He claimed that shooting music videos is now a waste of money.
Rudeboy said, “Music videos somehow now, because of this generation, is a waste of money. I am sorry to say this. But do you remember us [P-Square] before? You don’t see us anywhere. You just watch music videos, you see us and that’s it, or we come to your country, you see us.
“The reason you don’t see people faint for artistes anymore is because they see them on TikTok every day dancing and promoting your music. If Michael Jackson was alive now and doing promotional content on social media, nobody would see him and faint.
“Unfortunately, it’s too late for us to bring back the era of artistes being mystiques. How can you advise an artiste to post every day? How? Post what? You don’t need to.
“Social media brought positive change to the industry but it also led to ‘see-finish.’ Artistes are now too exposed. Fans see how they eat, cry. Before when artistes go to club, they stay in restricted VIP areas, but now when they are clubbing, everyone is filming.”

Entertainment

Davido’s Aide Offers Cash Reward For Missing Phone At Zlatan’s Wedding

Published

3 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Afrobeats superstar, Davido’s aide, Damilare Aladegbola, popularly known as Dre, has offered a cash reward to whoever returns his phone, which he claims went missing during rapper Zlatan Ibile’s wedding ceremony.
Dre made the appeal in a post on his Instagram page on Monday, pleading with the person who allegedly took the device to return it in exchange for money.
“If na u carry my phone for Zlatan wedding, abeg return am, I go give you money please,” he wrote.
The aide also expressed frustration over what he suggested was a method being used to take phones at social gatherings.
He said he would no longer tolerate waiters asking whether guests had finished eating so they could clear their plates, alleging that the practice could provide an opportunity for phones left on tables to be taken.
“From now on, if I go any party or dey any party and any stupid waitress tell me say are you done eating so I can pack your plate, na swear I go swear for you cause na pattern wey una dey use pack phone for table be that now,” he added.
However, Dre did not identify anyone suspected of taking his phone or provide further details about how the device went missing.
Zlatan Ibile tied the knot with his longtime partner, Davita Lamai, during a traditional wedding ceremony on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The ceremony, held in Lagos, attracted several celebrities, fans and well-wishers, with Davido among the prominent guests and leading the groomsmen.

Entertainment

I Ran Away From Nigeria, Never Wanted To Come Back-Chidinma

Published

3 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Popular singer, Chidinma Ekile has revealed that before transitioning from secular music to the gospel genre, she “ran away” from Nigeria.
Speaking at a recent Eezee Conceptz event, Chidinma explained that she travelled abroad and wanted to secure permanent residency because she didn’t want to return to Nigeria, but failed.
She revealed that while she was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only person calling her from Nigeria, so she decided to work with him upon her return.
“I travelled. I ran away from Nigeria. I was processing my papers not to come back to Nigeria, but for some reason, it didn’t work.
“While I was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only one who was calling me from Nigeria. He kept encouraging me, and I found the strength to come back to Nigeria. When I came back, I asked him to give me a gospel music contract because I want to spend time with God. And he gave me a contract that even my lawyer said seemed like a charity,” Chidinma stated.
The music star added that she did not transition into gospel music because she wanted to make gospel, but because she wanted a serious relationship with God.