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April 25, 2024
At his peak, D'banj was untouchable; he was and still is a master performer, hit-maker, and multi-award winner, standing tall in African music lore like a god. His discography, from his early days at the beginning of modern Nigerian music until now, is near-unchallenged. There are only a few artists who can match him hit-for-hit.
Born Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo on June 9, 1980, in Zaria, Kaduna State, his father is a military officer while his mother is a devout Christian and a businesswoman. Originally intending to follow in his father's footsteps and enroll in military school, his perspective changed after the tragic loss of his elder brother, a student of NMS, who died in a plane crash. He initially attended Lagos State University to study Mechanical Engineering but dropped out and moved to London with the aim of completing his studies, only to find fate had music in store for him.
After a stint living in London and working as a security guard, D'banj returned to Lagos in 2004. With D'banj as a co-owner and Don Jazzy as the CEO/President, they founded the music company Mo'Hits Records. By the time both parties fell out in 2012 and split, they were walking away from the most successful record label in Nigerian music history.But they had also redefined African music and nurtured stars including Wande Coal, Dr Sid, D'Prince, and Kayswitch.
His first two albums, "No Long Thing," and "RunDown Funk U Up," spawned evergreen hits including "Tongolo" and "Why Me." But the release of his third studio album, "The Entertainer," moved him to legendary status. Released in 2008, "The Entertainer" album elevated African music and cemented D'banj's legacy in history. The LP was supported by seven singles—“Fall in Love,” “Gbono Feli Feli,” “Suddenly,” “Kimon,” “Igwe”, “Olorun Maje,” and “Entertainer.”
He won the Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Awards in 2009 and went on to sign a major deal with Sony Music in 2012.
D'Banj's impressive career set the standard for what it means to be a superstar in Nigeria.
In 2012, D'Banj’s summer hit “Oliver Twist” swept the nation, the continent, and then the whole world. The song was an international sensation, earning high spots on multiple charts around the world. From his Mo' Hits days to his solo career, the Koko Master’s catalog is a cornerstone for documenting afrobeats glamorous history and many fans of the genre can agree that D'banj played a huge role in its globalization.
It’s hard to imagine the present international exposure Nigerian music is enjoying globally without the "Mr. Endowed" remix featuring Snoop Dogg bridging the gap between LA and Lagos way before international collaboration between afrobeat stars and their foreign counterparts became quite popular . The koko master was way ahead of his time.
As D'banj or “Skibanj” like his Jamaican friends calls him celebrates two decades on stage, his legacy looms large in the annals of the Nigerian music history. He not only revolutionized the Nigerian music industry but also inspired a new generation of artists to dream big and push boundaries with no limits.
