By Rita Okoye

Twenty years ago, D’banj, born Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, emerged on the music scene as an ambitious young artiste eager to conquer the industry with his infectious personality. It was a vibrant era for Nigerian pop music, with young artistes striving to make their mark with authentic Nigerian sounds.

With the release of hits like “Mobolowowon,” “Tongolo,” “Socor,” and the album “No Long Thing” in 2005, Bangalee, as he is fondly called, quickly rose to stardom.
His charismatic stage presence and electrifying performances, whether shirtless or not, earned him the nickname “The Entertainer.”
Beyond his music career, D’banj is also known for his entrepreneurial ventures and his influence in the African music industry. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to music and entertainment.
As he celebrates 20 years as an Entertainer, the one fondly called the Koko Master, speaks on the good, bad and ugly side of his eventful career journey.

You are celebrating 20 years on stage; what are you most grateful for?
I’m most thankful for grace in the past 20 years; being alive and relevant, being referred to as a pacesetter, and celebrating the favour that I’ve received from God is truly amazing. I always tell people, that, if I had to choose again, I wouldn’t change a thing—the timing, the opportunities—it’s all because God allowed it to happen. I’m so grateful for His grace in my life.

Looking back now, what would you say has been the key to remaining relevant until now?
First, the foundation is the grace of God. God has blessed us to be where we are. Secondly, it’s because I am fully myself. Anytime you see me, you get the entertainment. The music gets you into the room, but what you do inside the room is what matters. Over the years, I’ve realized that I’m not the smartest, best singer, or best dressed, but I package it all because I am genuine.

Recently, Burna Boy said that you’re one of the oldest and most respected in the industry; what’s your relationship with him like?
Burna Boy is my brother. We’ve known each other for a long time, and we had our first collaboration in 2014, with “Won Da Mo.” We flew to South Africa together and there was a great bond. Since then, we’ve been very close, and I’m so happy for his success today. We always talked about achieving great things, and I’m glad to see it happening.

Would you say your desire to help aspiring musicians led you down the entrepreneurial road with CREAM platform?
Absolutely, 100%. We completed the first edition with MTN’s “Best of the Streets” competition, helping to discover and nurture talent. With MTN being in every household based on the mobile phone, with over 80 million handsets, we decided to partner with them.
And then, Peak Cream Platform brought its resources to help and it turned out to be a great competition.
We were worried about the number of talents. And the person that eventually won came from Ibadan; winning 12 million naira, a record deal, and a car.
For the next 20 years, I want to help as many people as I can through mentorship, investment, and distribution. I believe content is the new crude oil—it’s a natural resource given by God that just needs to be refined be it music, comedy, movies. It’s the most viable industry right now.

Reflecting on the Nigerian music industry over the past 20 years, how has it changed your worldview?
From the beginning, we knew this was all we had, and I would always say, ‘Dress how you want to be addressed’. We carried it proudly, ensuring our quality matched global standards. That was what we stood for when we came in. Today, Afrobeat is one of the top genres globally, which is a testament to our vision. When you have a vision as a child, and now, you are seeing that vision come to pass, and you are alive to participate in it, it makes you feel so fulfilled. This evolution and being part of it, makes me feel fulfilled and committed, to shaping the industry for the next 20 years.

How have the challenges you faced, especially the noise following the death of your child, shaped your journey?
My family has been my greatest support. Looking back, I’m thankful for the trials because they made me stronger and more humane. It would have been funny when you are celebrating 20 years and you don’t have any pain. Now, that I am here, I understand why God took me through those pains and trials. It brought me closer to Him and reminded me of what truly matters and to be a source of hope for other people. You know, some people would see me and be like, ‘this one no get problem na, he’s fresh, influential and enjoying life’. But with what happened, everyone out there felt my pain. It made me become more humane and to understand that this life is a gift. That loss sent me to my foundation again, which is God. It was just God. The love and support from my family kept me afloat during those tough times; the loss of my child, the false accusations and all. My family never left my side, they were my backbone.

What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from your journey? And how important is mental health to you?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned is to stay grounded and connected to God. Mental health is incredibly important, and taking care of it is essential for sustaining one’s career and personal life.

How did you cope with your mental health after the loss of your son; did you have to seek therapy or just relied on your family?

To answer the therapy question, yes. Mental health is a constant thing. You have to be able to protect your mental health. Myself and my wife sought therapy when we lost our first son. I couldn’t continue with therapy more than once because of how I am built. I had to look for a different way to heal. My wife kept going, but I turned to my foundation in Christ. I did a lot of church, seeking God’s face, and finding my source. That helped me stay afloat. I also rediscovered my strength in being an entertainer. I had to entertain myself to stay afloat. It’s something you never really eradicate totally.
Sometimes, when I watch a movie and see any scene related to that, I have PTSD triggers. When I see a child close to the swimming pool or something related to that, I feel some type of way. Or news online about the loss of a child, it just puts me in another mood. This kind of loss is something you don’t wish an enemy. It is also something that if you can over pass it, you are definitely a stronger person and should be able to use your experience to help other people. That is what we are doing now.
My wife and I, just launched the DOTT Foundation dedicated to our late son, focusing on young kids and parents who have experienced similar losses.
It’s called D-O-T-T Foundation after my late son. My son’s name was Daniel Oyebanjo The Third, DOTT.
When it happened to someone like my brother, Davido, I was the first person he called because he knew I could relate. I’m grateful I could give him advice. You never know how God directs our steps, but faith keeps the light at the end of the tunnel.

Tell us about your 20-year journey; what excites and brings out the energy in you?
I’ve always loved entertaining. I’m not a singer or a rapper; I think it’s a gift. I’ve always been very energetic and athletic. I wanted to be in the military, if it wasn’t for music I would have been in Sambisa fighting for Nigeria. My father was in the military and I also went to Military school (NMS). I am the real barracks now. I’m so glad that I was able to identify my strength early enough which is in performing.
Moving forward, the next 20 years will see a lot of events, concerts, festivals, and intimate shows. We’ve lined up 20 shows in 20 cities, starting from Lagos on June 7th. We have a VIP dinner for my birthday and the new album launch. The album is The Entertainer Volume 2 (The Sequel). We’ll be at the Shrine on June 11th for a free concert, then head to Europe and America, returning to Nigeria for the Koko Festival. There’s Ghana, there is South Africa.
We will also do meet and greet with emerging artistes. We aim to impact talents in each city, connecting them to resources and support.

What excites you about these young generation of musicians and stars?
Their talent and creativity are epic. Their creative is crazy! They remind me of why we were successful. They have extra energy and aggression to create something for themselves. I am so excited about their aggression to create something unique for themselves. Whether they are music stars, content creators, or influencers, they work hard and use technology to advance their lives. I’m impressed with their ability to make it without traditional office jobs.

Are you really a mommy’s boy?
Yes, I’m a mummy’s boy! She has been that great backbone. My dad was in the military, and we lived in various places but my mum’s support and confidence have been a great foundation for me. She made sure we never lacked anything. She supported and taught us in the way of the Lord. A special shout out to my mum.

You always dress so classy; who are your style inspirations?
Pharrell Williams and James Bond are my inspirations. From a young age, I believed in dressing how I wanted to be addressed. I have always wanted to dress my best. James Bond’s suits were always bespoke and fresh, which inspired me.

If you could start all over again, what would you do differently?
I would have my mother as my manager, like Burna Boy’s mum. I would also try to manage relationships better. I am not calling any name or passing blames. Talent is important, but so is the business side. Having a great team is crucial for reaching your potential.

What are the lessons you’ve learned so far?
Managing relationships well is key. I’ve also learnt to stay grounded.

Was there ever a time you felt misunderstood in the industry?
Yes, I’ve been misunderstood many times. With social media especially, narratives can be taken out of context. Even the breakup with Mohits has nothing to do with me.

What moves you about late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti?
For my energy, Fela’s influence plays a part. People told me I had this Fela vibes. Anytime I came into Nigeria then, I used to go to the Shrine to learn more about Fela. He was expressive with his music, and I embraced that style. I love performing and connecting with the audience, which keeps my passion alive. Maybe in another world, I could be D’Banj Kuti.