Timi Dakolo recounts days of extreme poverty

Nigerian musician, Timi Dakolo, on Monday relived his days of extreme poverty with a picture he posted on Instagram.

The picture was taken on Wokoma Street, Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt, an indigent area in the Rivers State capital where the 36-year-old lived for 15 years.

“It wasn’t always like this,” he began for the benefit of those who do not know about his humble beginning.

Growing up, he said, was about oversized shoes that he grew into, food rationing, unsanitary residence, lack of school fees, inability to pay rent and several others setbacks.

In spite of the challenges, the father of three declared “I had the most beautiful family,” with awesome uncles and aunties and great cousins and friends.

IT WASN’T ALWAYS LIKE THIS… ONCE UPON A TIME IT WAS THE OVERSIZE SHOE… SO YOU WOULD GROW INTO IT… THE “NO FOOD THIS EVENING…” THE MOSQUITO WAR AT NIGHT… THE “GO HOME YOU HAVEN’T PAID SCHOOL FEES…” THE “JUST MANAGE FOOD GO DEY WHEN YOU COME BACK FROM SCHOOL…” THE CONSTANT DODGING OF THE LANDLORD.. THE “NO CHRISTMAS DRESS THIS YEAR…” THE HUSTLE TO MEET UP WAEC FEE BEFORE DEADLINE… THE SANITATION FEE… THE “NO WORRY MY PIKIN E GO BETTER…” IN ALL I HAD THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FAMILY… AWESOME UNCLES AND AUNTIES… GREAT COUSINS AND FRIENDS… THE HOUSE ON MY PICTURE WAS HOME FOR LIKE 15 YEARS… SHA SHA, WE ENJOYED NO. 15 “CHRIST APOSTOLIC STREET…” MILE 3 DIOBU, PORT HARCOURT… THIS PICTURE SHOWS THERE IS A GOD… AND HE IS INTERESTED IN YOUR MATTER…

A post shared by Timi dakolo (@timidakolo) on Jul 17, 2017 at 2:32am PDT

Born in Accra, Ghana to a Nigerian father and Ghanaian mother, Timi found fame after winning Idols West Africa in 2007.

The Bayelsa indigene released his debut album, Beautiful Noise, in 2011.

He is a judge on the on-going The Voice Nigeria music talent show.