D’banj

Height: 5feet 8inches

Home town: Ogun State

Fun fact: He is a shy person, hence the sunglasses all the time.

Best quote

“I wanted to be the biggest African entertainer, not the biggest singer. I had my mind on money. In order to say I’m the biggest, I had to be the richest”

“To tell you the truth, I would have been married if Mo’Hits had not broken up. The crisis really affected me and I had to start so many things afresh. Just like my mentor 2Face Idibia, I will be married and have my own kids one day.”

Popular songs

Bio

Born Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo on the 9 of June 1980 is a Nigerian performer, artist and entrepreneur. He was born in Zaria to a military officer and mother with a clergy position. He is the second child with 3 siblings.

He was enrolled in Nigerian Military School so as to follow his father’s steps, however quit and finished up high school in the Nigerian Navy School Abeokuta. In 1999 he attended University of Lagos in a pursuit to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering.

D’banj’s interest for music spiked after the unfortunate death of his older brother who had taught him how to play the harmonica and on his burst out into the Nigerian music scene, the harmonica was his signature piece. D’banj struggled for his parents approval to do music and eventually succeeded, as the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti as mentor D’banj and his music stood out.

He hooked up with Don Jazzy in the United Kingdom and both collaborated to produce hit single ‘tongolo’. D’banj and Don Jazzy teamed up to form Mo’Hits record and the rose fast to becoming a powerful music duo.

Best known For: I’m D’banj!!! No Long Thing. The International Superstar of the Afro beats/Afro Pop/Afro fusion music genre released his debut album produced by Don Jazzy ‘No Long thing’. Dbanj is also responsible for the hit song ‘Why Me’ which Wande Coal featured in as a dancer. His debut success led to further hit albums like Funk you up/Run down and the entertainer.

In 2009, he was the brains behind ‘Koko Mansion’ a reality show on Nigerian TV where 12 girls contest to win D’banj’s heart (similar to America’s ‘The Bachelor’. D’banj has performed alongside many other international artists including Kelly, Kanye West, Big Sean, Jay Z, Kid Cudi, LA Reid, Tinie Tempah and Rio Ferdinand, Snoop Dogg and many others. D’banj; whose signature look includes a pair of sunglasses has bagged a lot of awards including best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009 and BET Awards.

A chanced meeting with Kanye West on a plane ride led to a major collaboration ;his signing on to Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music label in the US and Mercury in the UK both of what D’banj calls “the best birthday gift” .He dropped a major track ‘Oliver in 2011 , the danceable infectious single received a huge positive response. ‘Oliver Twist’ has so far sold about over 11 million records worldwide. It also debuts as number 9 on UK Top 10 National charts just behind the likes of Rihanna.

After his split with Don Jazzy and Mo’Hits record he went on to form his own label called DKM (D’Kings Men). Dbanj signed his younger brother Kay Switch on his DKM Records. At the end of 2013 he was reinstated as a Globacom ambassador and also made his intentions known about going into the agricultural sector.

He founded the Koko Foundation for Youth and Peace Development. He is also Nigeria’s first United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace

Personal Life of D’banj

The artist whom every lady wants a piece of was once dating Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji and then they split. He had in the past been seen with Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari and Jennifer Obayuwana but is currently single.