Toyin Sokefun-Bello popularly known as T. Y. Bello was born on a 12thDay of January. She is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, photographer and philanthropist. Before she separated herself to pursue a solo career, she was one of the defunct gospel band group called Kush. She is equally a member of the Nigerian photography collective, Depth of Field.
TY Bello is an indigene of Ogun State of Nigeria. She studied economics at the University of Lagos. After her studies, she practiced journalism for a while and then went into photography.
Being a talented musician, TY Bello also explores the music world, as she was once a member of the defunct group KUSH, which stands for Kinetically Ushering Salvation into Hearts and Homes. The group was formerly made up of individuals like Lara George, Dapo Torimiro and rapper Emem Ema. The group was very popular in the early 2000s especially when they dropped the single "Let's Live Together"; they later managed to release an album before they eventually disbanded. Apart from being a musician, TY Bello is the official photographer to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She also works for Thisday fashion magazine.
In the year 2008, TY Bello released her debut studio album, which she called Greenland. The album, which took two years to develop, was produced by Mosa Adegboye. TY Bello earned herself a Nigeria Music Award as well as a Sound City Award on account of the Album. She personally describes the album as a journey of her everyday life. Her music of Greenland is an embodiment of family, love and nation. It’s title track can best be described as song written to motivate Nigerians, and to liberate them from a place of despair to a place of hope.
TY Bello later discloses plans about her second studio album titled “The Future”, while speaking to Ariya Today. The album, which was originally slated for a 2011 release, was ranked as number 12 on Nigerian Entertainment Today 's list of the 12 Albums To Buy In the year 2011. TY Bello herself, disclose that she worked with producer Mosa and recorded the album in a few months. On February 19 2011, TY Bello released "The Future" as the lead single from an album that has the same name. In the song, TY Bello implores the Nigerian youth to be the change they seek. Kemi Adetiba later directed The music video for the song, which was released on April 3, 2011; The music video features cameo appearances from Banky W, Chude Jideonwo,Tara Fela-Durotoye and Sound Sultan. The song was given the rating of 7 out of 10 stars by Ore Fakorede who also believed that the spice of soft tribal drums, piano and synths, provided a vivid backdrop for TY Bello, and contrasted her unmistakable voice. Achieving that, brought out the poignancy in the song’s lyrics to life.
In October 2011, the Nigerian Ministry of Youth Development, compiled an eight-minutes anti-rape video, and TY Bello was one of the Nigerian celebrities featured in the video. The anti-rape video threw light on the September 2011 victim of a gang rape, at Abia State University. In December 2013, TY Bello’s single "Yahweh" featuring Wale Adenuga was released.
On October 10, 2014, TY Bello released her third studio album, titled “The Morning Songbook”, for free digital download through SoundCloud. The audio was not promoted , and comprises 10 tracks which includes "Jesu Jesu", “Thirsty” and "Yahweh". The album features collaborations with M Sugh and Fela Durotoye. A rating of 7 out of 10 was given to the album by Udochukwu Ikwuagwu of the Breaking Times.
In the year 2016, while Bello was photographing the British rapper Tinie Tempah, one bread seller named Jumoke walked into the photo shoot. Tempah, the Nigerian-British record producer, rapper and singer was on a visit to Nigeria, and took part in shots with TY Bello. The moment did not look special at all, at least for the fact that Jumoke stood there a little confused.
Co passers-by were asking her to leave the set while others were asking her to stay. Bello then signaled if it was ok to take her photograph and she agreed by nodding, and Bello carelessly pressed on her photo shutter so Jumoke could move ahead.
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