Nigerian Afro-Dancehall sensation Inetimi Timaya Odon, popularly known as Timaya, stirred up the crowd at BK Arena on Saturday night when he declared his deep admiration for Rwanda—and his desire to marry a Rwandan woman.
The award-winning artist was performing at the final night of the Giants of Africa Festival on August 2, 2025, a major music and sports celebration that featured top African acts including The Ben, Kizz Daniel, and Ayra Starr.
Before kicking off his energetic performance, Timaya greeted the crowd with heartfelt praise for Rwanda and its people.
> “I love you all. You know that, right? I’m so happy to be here,” he said, receiving a roar of approval from the audience.
He went on to express admiration for Kigali’s beauty and the elegance of Rwandan women:
> “I want to stay here forever. Rwanda is so beautiful, and Kigali is unbelievably amazing.”
The most striking part of his speech came when he candidly admitted:
> “I’m not married yet—but I want to marry a Rwandan woman.”
Timaya Has Previously Expressed Caution About Marriage
Though known for his upbeat hits like “Sanko”, “Bum Bum”, and “Balance”, Timaya has also opened up in past interviews about his cautious views on marriage.
Speaking to Naija FM, he once said:
> “I’ve never been married, but that could change in the future. If I marry someone today and she disturbs me, I’ll walk away. In most of my past relationships, I’m the one who ended things—I don’t like being stressed.”
Despite never being formally married, Timaya is a father of four:
Emmanuella and Gracey, daughters he shares with Barbara Fumnaya Nwaokolo;
Tamar, his son;
and Maya, a daughter he had with Dunnie Onasanya.
A Return to Kigali, Now with a Bolder Declaration
This was not Timaya’s first time performing in Rwanda. He previously graced the Kigali stage during the Kigali Jazz Junction on March 25, 2022, at Canal Olympia.
However, his recent visit marked a new level of affection for the country—one that might go beyond the stage and into matters of the heart.
As fans cheered his declaration, social media quickly lit up with excitement. Some began playfully suggesting potential Rwandan brides, while others praised his respect for the country and its culture.
Will Timaya find love in the Land of a Thousand Hills? Time will tell—but his message has already found a home in the hearts of many Rwandans.
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