Why I didn’t renew my deal with MTN – Timaya opens up

Sensational Nigerian singer and founder of hip hop group Dem Mama Soldiers, Timaya, has revealed the reason behind his decision not to renew his endorsement deal with telecommunications giants, MTN.

MTN had released a list of its ambassador that renewed their deals last week and Timaya wasn’t listed among the array of celebrities, sparkling rumuors on why he was left out.

However, the self-acclaimed Egberipapa 1 of Bayelsa revealed the main reason why he pulled out of the deal in a recent interview with Punch’s Saturday Beats.


Timaya claims he didn’t have any issues with MTN, but wanted a better deal.

“I have always wanted to become an ambassador to a telecommunications company and I was approached by both Globacom and MTN. I chose MTN.

I am a businessman and I feel I should have a better deal this year. If the deal is not good enough for me, then it is not right because I worked very hard to get to the stage I am. It could be right for other people but I think I should do better this year.

There are some artistes that are brand ambassadors and they do not have any hit song. They are just there based on pity. Every year, I release a hit song and I feel if we are to renew a contract, we have to revisit the terms and conditions.

Not that we would do the same thing as the last time or do it out of pity. Being a brand ambassador makes you limited in some certain areas and I expect to be paid for such limitations. I want more.

They are good people and we did not have any misunderstanding. It was purely a business decision,” Timaya said.