By Ayomide Otitoju
Nigerian singer and songwriter Inetimi Alfred Odom, widely known as Timaya, has expressed his admiration for internet sensation Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, popularly referred to as Portable. Timaya revealed that he resonates with Portable’s vibrant energy, noting that he exhibited a similar spirit during his early days in the music industry.
In a recent interview, the “Dey Your Dey” crooner reflected on his own journey, stating that the energy he displayed early on was a strategic move for his growth as an artist.
He recounted a memorable moment when he first heard of Portable while traveling with fellow musician 2Baba. “The first time Portable came out, myself and 2Baba were in a jet going to Delta State, and I said, ‘You don hear of that guy Portable?’ 2Baba was like, ‘Which one be Portable again?’ I said, ‘Zaazu zeh, that guy, na me o because I was a crazy guy,’” Timaya recalled.
Timaya acknowledged his past reputation as a “crazy” artist, stating, “Sometimes, when I talk, some people will say Timaya that is unproblematic, and I will say, ‘if you know me.’ I was really crazy! I think it’s growth, and at that point, it was a strategy for me.”
He also shared an emotional experience from a recent performance by Portable in Bayelsa during Timaya Day. “The day I saw Portable on stage in Bayelsa, the way my Bayelsa people screamed, I just started crying because I could use that money to buy one car to drive … but you see that joy, it was everything to me,” Timaya said.
