Nigerian Dancehall singer, Enitimi Alfred Odom, better known as
Timaya, has said he would allow his daughter, Emmanuela, to become a
stripper as an adult, if it would allow her fulfill her potentials in
life.
He also opened up on how he manages to be a parent and a musician simultaneously and his marriage plans.
According to the father of two, he is not yet a husband material.
In an interview with Vibe Magazine, Timaya said: “Fatherhood is life.
Anything that is good comes easy. My music is my love and Emma is my
life, so we are living it. Sometimes she tells me that “Daddy I don’t
like that song, take it off”, and I will be like “why don’t you like
it?” I’m trying to grow my kids in the way of love just so that they can
be real. If I have bad breath, my daughter can tell me, “Daddy your
breath does not smell nice”.
“Music and fatherhood is a happy life. I’m not living like I have to
be serious because I’m doing music. It’s the job but that’s my life. I
might just be doing music sometimes in the studio with my daughter but
of course I’m a father, I know what is good for her at her age. So I can
tell her “hey, It is bedtime now”.
“I’m a responsible dad also. Whatever makes her happy, 10 or 20 years down the line.
“If today she tells me daddy, I want to be a stripper, that’s her life. I brought her into this world.
“I just need to make her understand what is good and bad, what is
right and wrong. Sometimes what you think is wrong for the child can be
good for the child. Imagine, my father wanted me to be a banker, how?
That’s not what I wanted to be. I followed my dream. Just imagine if my
parents had stopped me. This music that they never wanted me to do is
what is taking the whole family somewhere, so, I think I should allow my
daughter express herself.”
On whether he was likely to be married anytime soon, Timaya said: “No. I’m not a marriage material. I’m not ready for that.”