Nigerian singer Timaya has reflected on the tragic 1999 Odi massacre that took place in his hometown in Bayelsa State.
He revealed that the brutal military operation was carried out by the Nigerian Army under orders from the government, targeting the mainly Ijaw community of Odi.
Timaya shared that the event was deeply personal to him, as his mother ran a bakery in Odi that served surrounding villages. The military invasion led to significant loss of lives and destruction of property.
The singer explained that he later channeled the pain and experience into his 2007 hit song “Dem Mama”, which told the story of the massacre. The powerful message in the song earned him the traditional title Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, recognizing him as a voice for the people.
“It [Odi] was part of me too because my mum had a bakery in the village and was supplying the whole villages… 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 it [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.”