Why I can’t be Eedris Abdulkareem’s friend —Timaya

In a recent interview with Naija FM monitored by R Timaya, he shut down the notion that he and Abdulkareem share similarities, emphasising their distinct personalities.

“Nobody fears Eedris because he talks too much, right from time,” Timaya said. “I don’t even want anyone to fear me; I respect myself so that people can respect me.”

When the host clarified that his statement was about avoiding unnecessary conflict, Timaya explained his stance. “Normally, nobody likes to look for Timaya’s trouble because if they look for it, they’ll find it,” he said.

Reflecting on their past, Timaya revealed there was no personal animosity between them during their time working together. “Eedris Abdulkareem and I never had any issues,” he stated.

“We just had a work relationship. I learned the things I needed to learn and moved on. I don’t think he even knew my name back then. I gave him a shout-out because he was part of my success story. But we don’t talk and have no reason to.”

Timaya shared insights into the dynamics of the music industry during that era, pointing out that many artistes were treated poorly.

“When you work for people, or they work with you, don’t act like you’re tolerating them. Treat them like family because you never know tomorrow,” he advised.

“Back then, the people at the top treated their recording artistes like boys in the quarters. There wasn’t any rapport between us; he treated us like a boss.”

The strained relationship between the two came to light in 2017 when Timaya publicly accused Abdulkareem of not recognising his contributions during his time as a backup artiste.

He recalled using his money to cover transportation costs to perform with Eedris, a slight he claimed Abdulkareem never acknowledged.

During that same period, Timaya criticised Eedris for not helping younger artistes grow, contrasting it with his efforts to uplift musicians like Patoranking, Runtown, and Skales. His frustration boiled over, leading him to insult Abdulkareem, calling him a “dirty Igbo smoker.”

Timaya’s recent comments, however, suggest a more reflective outlook. He highlighted the importance of mutual respect and the lessons learned from his early struggles in the industry.

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