‘They Paid Me Peanuts!’ – Timaya Opens Up on Career Setback and Underrated Talent”

Nigerian music star Timaya has opened up about the early struggles he faced while trying to secure a marketer for his debut 2007 album, True Story, tirelessly moving between Lagos and Port Harcourt.

In a recent interview on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, the 44-year-old singer recounted how his breakthrough came unexpectedly—thanks to a roadside CD vendor in Port Harcourt who linked him up with a marketer in Alaba, Lagos.

Timaya explained that when he arrived at the marketer’s shop with his demo, which included the track Ogologoma, the song immediately grabbed attention. As the marketer played it while cleaning his shop, customers began asking to buy the song on the spot.

The Dem Mama crooner revealed that although he initially hoped to sell the album for ₦3.5 million, the marketer offered him ₦500,000—a figure that, while disappointing compared to his expectation, was still a significant improvement over the ₦45,000 offers he had previously received.

He narrated:

“I was told to look for his brother in Alaba. I called and introduced myself, saying his brother referred me. He told me to bring my demo the next morning. When I got there, he wasn’t a big marketer yet, but he had marketed people like Sky B.

While he cleaned his shop, he played my demo. When Ogologoma came on, people started asking for it—even though it wasn’t out yet. He later took me to eat and asked how much I wanted for the album. I said ₦3.5 million. He smiled and said no one would pay me that, then offered ₦500,000 instead.

He warned that if I didn’t come back by Monday, I shouldn’t call him again. That was on a Friday. Mind you, some others had only offered me ₦45,000. As I returned that day, I heard other upcoming artists talking about being priced ₦25,000 to ₦40,000.

When I told them someone offered me ₦500,000, they didn’t believe me. I got off the bus and called the marketer right away to say I was ready. He told me to come on Monday and collect the money. And that was how it all started.”

Advertisement