TY Bello

Toyin Sokefun-Bello (bon 14 January 1978),wey people popularly know as TY Bello, na Naija singer, songwriter, photographer and philanthropist. Before she begin solo career for music, she be member of one gospel band wey dem bin know as Kush. TY Bello na member Nigerian photography collective, Depth of Field. Dem sabi am well well for her singles "Greenland", "Ekundayo", "This Man", "Freedom" and "Funmise".

Early life and education

Dem born TY Bello for Ogun State. She bin get degree for Economics from University of Lagos, come do journalism before she come enter photography.

Music career

 Kush

She enter Naija's musical stage as member of the group wey dem dey call Kinetically Ushering Salvation into Hearts and Homes(KUSH).Other members bin include Lara George, Dapo Torimiro and rapper Emem Ema. Di group bin gain popularity for early 2000s with the single "Let's Live Together"; and na only one album dem manage to release before dem disband.

2008: Greenland

For 2008, Bello release her first studio album Greenland wey Mosa Adegboye produce and di work bin take two years to develop. Na the album come make am collect one Nigeria Music Award come join Sound City Award. Bello bin describe di album as journey of her everyday life. Di album get correct messages about love, family and nation and di title track na song of inspiration wey dem write to take motivate Naija people onto hope.

2011–13: Di Future, Di Jubilee Collection and anti-rape campaign

Bello bin talk about plans for her second studio album, Di Future, wen she dey yarn on top Ariya Today. Di album wey dem plan to release for 2011 na him dem rank 12th on top Nigerian Entertainment Today's list of 12 Albums to Buy in 2011. Di singer talk say she bin work with producer Mosa record the album in a few months. For 19 February 2011, Bello bin release "The Future" as the lead single inside di album of di wey bin get di same name. Di song wey bin advice Naija youth to be di change wey dem dey look for. Di music video of "The Future" wey Kemi Adetiba bin direct na him den release on 3 April 2011. People like Tara Fela-Durotoye, Sound Sultan, Chude Jideonwo and Banky W bin feature for inside di video. Ore Fakorede bin rate the song 7 stars out of 10 as him talk say its "soft tribal drums, synths and a piano na him provide correct backdrop for TY to contrast her unmistakable voice against. Makeup brand House of Tara bin launch The Jubilee Collection, wey be limited edition line of makeup wey "The Future" single the inspire.

For October 2011, Bello be one of di celebrities wey dem feature for one eight-minute anti-rape video wey Nigerian Ministry of Youth Development bin compile. Na this anti-rape video dem take trowey light on top the victim of a gang rape inside Abia State University for 2011. For December 2013, Bello bin release her single "Yahweh" wia she bin feature Wale Adenuga. The song bin get additional vocals from Nwando Okeke plus including Nosa. She bin write the first line of the song inside photoshoot for 2004.

2014: The Morning Songbook

For October 10 2014, TY Bello bin release her third studio album wey dem call di Morning Songbook for free digital download on top SoundCloud. the album wey dem release without any promotion na him get 10 tracks, including "Yahweh", "Thirsty" and "Jesu Jesu" come feature collaborations with M Sugh and Fela Durotoye. Udochukwu Ikwuagwu of the Breaking Times bin rate di album 7 out of 10 come talk say "TY Bello and Mosa deserve credit for the superb songwriting and production employed on this".

Photography career

TY Bello be official photographer to former President Goodluck Jonathan for di time wey him dey for office; she also dey do work for Thisday fashion magazine.

2016: Olajumoke Orisaguna's discovery

TY Bello bin get hand for di success of hairstylist/bread seller Olajumoke Orisaguna wey she bin mistakenly discover inside one photo shoot for Lagos with British rapper Tinie Tempah. After dem don do am makeover and correct professional photo session, Bello bin arrange make dem put Orisaguna's picture on the cover of This Day's Style magazine, and since that time, Orisaguna don turn model as she don sign with one agency.

Humanitarian work

TY Bello dey organise annual exhibition for photography to take raise funds for orphans inside Naija. Na she be the director of Link-a-child, one NGO wey dey work for circulation of information on orphanages inside Naija and wey dey seek sponsorship for them. In July 2011 the non-profit Communication For Change organisation bin honour Ty Bello inside one five-part documentary film wey dem title RedHot.

Personal life

TY Bello don marry and she get twin boys named Christian and Christopher on 10 October 2014.

Discography Greenland (2008) The Future (2011) The Morning Songbook (2014) Africa awake (2020) We Are Fire (2022)