Nigerian Entertainment News: Timaya Reveals Why He Left Port Harcourt and Advised Burna Boy to Follow Suit

Timaya, renowned as the Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa and one of the most triumphant artists hailing from the South South region of Nigeria, recently divulged his motives behind departing Port Harcourt, his birthplace and upbringing ground

In a recent discourse, he advocated for fellow musicians to consider a similar move.

 By Ann Chigbufue 

Timaya echoed the proverbial notion that a prophet is often disregarded in his own land, recounting his own brush with peril after gaining fame in Port Harcourt. Expounding on his exit strategy and urging Burna Boy and others to contemplate a similar path, Timaya shared:

“I’m born in Port Harcourt but from Bayelsa. I was born and raised in Port Harcourt. Funny enough, I never lived in Bayelsa. I grew up in Port Harcourt all my whole life.

When I left Port Harcourt, I told a lot of people, even Burna Boy, I told him bro, you have to leave here.

Because, it’s not like it’s — at some point, I think when you grow up and blow up from a place, you’ve gotta get out of that place. Because the dream is to get to Hollywood, not to buy back the block.

And that’s why the people, the rappers, like see Nipsey Hussle, he died in the block. You can help people from afar. There’s a lot of envy, and all that.

I was almost killed in Port Harcourt after I blew up. So I’m like there’s too much envy. I know my childhood friends that were my guys and they see me doing fine, they’ll just think you’re posing. You feel me?

So it’s better to just dey hail from far. 

Like, I love you but I can love you from afar. Na him be dey your dey [laughs]. Do you understand? So at some point, you’ve got to understand that not everybody got to go to that next level with you.”