Nigerian dancehall singer, Timaya, has shared his personal experience of the 1999 Odi massacre in Bayelsa State, describing it as a traumatic event that resulted in the loss of lives and properties.
The massacre was carried out by the Nigerian Army against the predominantly Ijaw town on the orders of the government.
Timaya revealed that his mother owned a bakery in Odi, which supplied bread to the entire village. The military operation had a profound impact on him and his family, leading to significant losses.
The singer used his music to narrate the events of the Odi massacre in his 2007 hit song ‘Dem Mama’.
He said “Odi was part of me, too, because my mum had a bakery in the village and was supplying the whole village bread. It was the village that was attacked.
“It’s very touching because we lost lives, a lot of things and history. You know when the government just says ‘go and shoot these people down’.
“I sang about the massacre. That is the most I can do. I told the story, how they sent the military to burn down the village. I narrated my story and it helped me to get an impact. I became the voice, which they gave me the title of the Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa State. That is the mouthpiece of the people.”
