D’Banj Emerges Silver Bird’s Personality Of The Week

Popular award winning
entertainer, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo popularly known as D’banj, the Koko Master is a Nigerian singer, song writer harmonica player and businessman.  He has won several music awards including the awards for the Best African Act at the MTV Europe music awards.  He recently celebrated his 10th anniversary in the music business.
The party had several industry colleagues in attendance including Banky W, Praize, Lamy Phillips, Yvonne Ekwere Kemi Adetiba, Toke Makinwa, Tola Odunsi, Ehiz Shaydee, Charle, WizKid, Davido, Phyno and  Seyi Shay.
Born to  a military father and business woman mother, music sensation, D’banj was born in Zaria in the northern part of Nigeria. Instead of joining the military, he diverted to pursue his love for music and relocated to the United Kingdom despite his parents’ disapproval.
His earlier connection to his music passion happened after he lost his military pilot-in-training older brother, Femi, to a plane crash and he was given his harmica.  This was the instrument that set his successful music career.
2002 saw him collaborating with Nigerian Rep Star, Rugged man on the track, “Kiss Me Again” produced by O.j.B Jezreel.  The song generated a lot of publicity and its accompanying video went to number 5 on the Groovoids chart on MBITV.
D’banj became an official artist on Mo’Hits Record Label and set out in 2005 to release his debut album, which included the hit single, ‘Tolongo’ in 2006, the second album “Rundown Funk U Up” was released with a remix of Tolongo and another hit song “Why Me”.  This debut success led to further notable musical collaborations including Dare Art-Alade’s album track – Escalade  Part 2 and Ikechukwu’s 2008 album Song, “Wind Am Well”.
D’banj has bagged many awards which include Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artiste of the year at MTV Africa Awards 2009 and Bet Awards.  A chance meeting with Kanye West on plane ride lead to major business relationship in 2011, and what he calls “the best birthday gift”.
His signing on to Kanye’s G.O.O. D music label in the US and mercury in the UK.  Finding inspiration from the story of Charles Dickens’s orphan, ‘Oliver Twist’.  The danceable infectious single of same title was released following the signing and it is still receiving a lot of positive response.
So far, Oliver Twist has sold about 11 million records worldwide. It also debuted as No 9 on  the UK top 10 National charts, just behind ‘The likes of Rihana and Tulisa. D’banj is one of the most celebrated stars in Nigeria and on the international front.
Culled from Silverbird magazine.