Tito Da.Fire

Jedidiah Uduak Otons (Born Sepember 22, 1978, and later changed surname to Peters, his father’s first name in 2012) is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, Radio/TV presenter, content producer and entrepreneur better known as Tito Da.Fire. a Nigerian, Born in Ganta, Nimba County Liberia to Nigerian father and Liberian mother and raised in Ganta and Monrovia until moving back to Nigeria in 1990 to live in Yaba, Lagos Nigeria and later moving to Sango-Ota, Ogun State.
Tito Da.Fire earliest music flames were ignited by his Liberian mother who while living in Tappita, Liberia, sang to classics by Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, and Skeeta Davies among others. His later winning a Hollywood Artistes Record Label song-writing contest along with Gent2Men (himself and brother Michael “Mickey”), at ages 16 and 17 respectively, was just the spark needed to transform the young lads’ dreams into reality. They started performing in classrooms and gigs in elementary St. Francis Elementarry School, Tappita Liberia and later at Sango Ota High school, Ogun State, Nigeria till 1997 they met Reggae Star, Daniel Wilson who mentored them for months.
In 2003 they released the hit “Seun Rere” a rapp-song (an interpolation of Nigerian songstress Christy Essien Igbokwe’s classic. Later in 2003 after hearing the Remake of Celine Dion’s “If that’s what it takes” by Funke Celine Dion, Tito Da.Fire Sought out the OJB Jezreel, the Producer of the remake and he produced “Majekaja Rara” which was heard by Kenny Ogungbe of Kennis Music, and he immediately put the song on rotation on “Ray Power 100.5Fm”, the song became an instant hit across Nigeria, Peaking at No1 on the MTN Nigeria Top 10 count down, and No1 across almost every music chart across Nigeria in 2003. It went on to become the No.3 Most played song on Ray Power 100.5 Best 100 songs of 2003, and Top 5 of Rthythm 93.7Fm top 93 songs of 2003, Cool 96.9Fm top 96 songs of 2003.
Same year Gent2Men won Gbedu Awards for Best R&B Song/Group Of The Year (Gent2Men-for Majekaja), and multiple media nominations such as 2003 AMEN-Awards for Musical Excellence in Nigeria (Presenter of the year-Tv), 2003 :Fanta fame Music Awards (Tv host of the year), 2007/2011:DAME- Diamond Award for Media Excellence (Presenter of the year), 2008 :The Future Awards (On-Air Personality of the year).
In addition, Tito Da.Fire collaborated with numerous artistes such as, MI , Kwaw Kese, Harry Song, MoCheddah, Dagrin, Jo-El, Jaywon, IG Flamez, Sheyman, Terry Da.Rappman, Ruffman and Vector Tha Viper amongst others. He has become one of Africa’s most prolific on-air personalities, hosting numerous shows viewed on Television and listened on Radio by millions of audiences. These include hosting Channel O/Mnet’s Sprite Emcee Africa competition with Lee Kasumba, hosting Nationally syndicated Star Music (aka Star World Chart Hits by Star Lager) with Coco(Eyiyemi Pratt), Presenting and producing the nationally syndicated Chelsea Spirit of Success Party and Squadron Football Rave for the past 5years.
Life and work
Early life and education
Jedidiah Uduak Peters was born in Ganta, Nimba County, Liberia, the son of Rebecca Otons (nee Lomothey), from Harper, Maryland and Peter Otons from Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria. Tito Da.Fire spent most of his childhood in Tappita with his parents. The family relocated to Nigeria in 1990 during the Liberian Civil war and spent one year in Yaba, Lagos where the young lad took interest in Nigerian and foreign music. During this period they recorded several demos and continued to perform at gigs in Sango-Ota High School, Sango-Ota, Ogun State Nigeria, when their parents relocated from Lagos to Ogun State. and later in 1997, met up with Daniel Wilson a childhood Reggae/Dancehall icon who tutored Tito Da.Fire and his brother Michael “mickey” in songwriting and singing.
Another meeting with Dr.Shoe Wadada (a Patoise radio Dj at Ray Power 100.5Fm,Lagos) in Sango, he listened to the duo sing and was impressed and later invited Tito to meet a Tv Producer of “Our Time” a popular youth tv programme on Africa Independent Television AIT Kaneng Wrang Pam, who upon hearing Tito Da.Fire sing and speak, enlisted him to host her Tv show. While in Liberia, Tito Da.Fire attended St. Francis Elementary School, and upon relocating to Lagos, attended National Primary School, and then Sango-Ota High School. Next he acquired a National Diploma in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, and HND from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, then proceeded for masters in communication studies from Lagos State University.

Career
In Gent2Men
Tito Da.Fire and Mickey formed the band Gent2men in 2002 with their first single "Seun ReRe (It's gon be alright)" becoming a chart-topper across Nigeria. He was the official male "Voice" for Fanta rasta radio commercials used worldwide between 1999 and 2002. He was also the official Close-up Toothpaste "voice" during same period.
Gent2Men released two highly successful singles Namely; Seun Rere and Their follow up single "Majekaja"(a Yoruba word meaning “Don't let us fight” which was an afro-fusion song (and later album title) which became a national anthem and earned them spots on numerous charts, MTN Top Ten Chart, it also was in the Top 10spot of the 100most-played songs in Nigeria on Ray Power 100.5Fm and Rhythm 93.7Fm’s year-end countdown, and on other stations’ top rotation. It showed the hallmarks of a great duo. Tito Da.Fire also became a favorite TV personality for his anchoring of multiple award nominated/Nationally Syndicated (2002-2003) Star World Chart Hits (Star Music),a TV musical show where Tito interviewed Usher and Shaggy on their respective visits to Nigeria. Gent2Men split in 2007, and Tito went solo.
Personal life
Tito Da.Fire is married to Blessing Ifeanyi Okocha with whom he has one child.

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