Timeless Noel reveals how he came up with 'Odi Dance'

By Sumaya Hussein

Gospel artist and media personality Timeless Noel has revealed that the name ‘Odi Dance,’ from his 2017 hit by the same title, was inspired by high school students.

Noel, who hosts the ‘Kubamba’ programme on Citizen TV, said he coined the name after he noticed the dance trending in the various high schools he would tour with the show.

“People were doing the dance and I said, ‘Okay, should I give this dance a name?’ I gave it the name, ‘Odi Dance’,” said Noel in an interview with Citizen Digital’s ‘Behind The Mic’ segment.

Shortly afterward, he released the famous ‘Odi Dance’ song featuring Hype Ochi and Jabidii. The song quickly became the top dance challenge and won ‘Collabo of The Year’ at the Groove Awards in 2018.

The name ‘Odi’ comes from the word ‘ordinary’ to mean the dance is simple and anyone can do it. As the song lyrics go; “Simple dance you can manage, Hauhitaji any dance college.”

The ‘Odi dance’ challenge became an internet sensation and gained international attention.

“It happened. It exploded and we saw French Montana post it all the way from Canada. People in the news were doing it,” said Noel.

“Almost all the artists from abroad were taught ‘Odi dance’ when they came to Kenya.”

Noel disclosed that he got more fame from outside the borders than in Kenya.

“We performed in Ghana and everyone was excited. But here, I am regarded as an ordinary person. Prophets are not welcomed in their hometown,” he joked.

The name ‘Odi’ is now used to describe culture and a genre of Kenyan Music. ‘Odi pop’ is a form of Kenyan Hip hop that encompasses Gengetone and other genres of Kenyan feel-good/ dance music.