Biography
Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (born 9 June 1980), commonly known as D’banj, is a Nigerian singer, rapper and businessman.
He is also a music executive who founded Mo’ Hits Records with producer Don Jazzy. He has won several music awards, including Best African Act at the 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards, Artist of the Year at the 2009 MTV African Music Awards, Best International Act: Africa at the 2011 BET Awards and Best Selling African Artist at the 2014 World Music Awards, and the Evolution Award at the 2015 MTV African Music Awards.
Oyebanjo takes the stage name D’banj, a combination of his first name, Dapo, and his surname, Oyebanjo.
He is best known internationally for his 2012 summer hit “Oliver Twist”, a vibrant dance track that combines Afrobeats and electronic dance music that topped the African charts in 2011 and was a top 10 hit on the UK Singles Chart in 2012, reaching number 2 on the UK R&B Chart.
D’banj said 2021 will be marked in Grand style and he will release an album titled “Ikebe” before the end of the first quarter.
Nigerian singer
D’banj |
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 D’banj: History, Biography, Photos |
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| Wiki Events & About Data | |
| Full name: | Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo |
| Stage name: | D’banj, Kokomaster, Bangalee |
| Born: | June 9, 1980 (age 44) |
| Place of birth: | Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria |
| State of origin: | Ogun State |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Height: | 1.76 meters |
| Parents: | Daniel Duro Oyebanjo, Faith Olubukolola Oyebanjo |
| Siblings: | Taiwo Oyebanjo, Kehinde Oyebanjo, Shola Oyebanjo, Femi Oyebanjo |
| Wife • Husband/wife: | Lineo Didi Kilgrow (married 2016) |
| Girlfriend • Partner: | Genevieve Nnaji (former) |
| The children: | Daniel Oyebanjo III, Zane Oyebanjo |
| Job: | Singer • Musician |
| Net worth: | 30.1 million USD |
Early life and education
D’banj, also known as Kokomaster or Bangalee, was born on June 9, 1980 in Zaria, Northern Nigeria.
He was born to a military officer father, Daniel Duro Oyebanjo, commander of an artillery regiment and a devout businesswoman mother, Faith Olubukolola Oyebanjo, from Shagamu in Ogun State.
Dbanj has twins Taiwo Oyebanjo and Kehinde Oyebanjo. His other siblings are Shola Oyebanjo and Femi Oyebanjo.
D’banj graduated from Lagos State University. He studied Mechanical Engineering.
Career
A tribute to his mentor Fela Kuti, D’banj uses a fusion of Afrobeat and Afropop to breathe life into his music and bring it into the 21st century with relentless enthusiasm and a healthy dose of humor. His songs are based on his life, often hilarious but with a deeper meaning, documenting the struggles of a young Nigerian trying to achieve his dreams. He performs in Yoruba, English and Pidgin English.
D’banj’s debut album, No Long Thing, was released in 2005. The album spawned several singles, with Tongolo being the lead single. This proved to be his breakthrough single and a hit. The album also earned him the title Koko Master, with the term Koko having various meanings.
D’banj’s early success led to collaborations with other artists, including Dare Art Alade and Ikechukwu. His single Koko was used by the PDP (Nigeria’s ruling political party) as its campaign theme for the 2007 general elections.
D’banj’s second album Rundown (Fuck U Up), released in 2006, spawned several singles, including the club single, Tongolo (Remix) and the lead single Why Me?. This proved to be another hit.
At the time, he was an artist under Mo’Hits Records, and was also a member of the Mo’ Hits Allstars collective (which included artists Dr SID, Wande Coal, KaySwitch and D’Prince). He was once spotted with one of Nigeria’s most talented singers, “Smile Lasisi”. The group’s debut album, Curriculum Vitae, was released in December 2007. The album contained the hit singles, “Be Close To You”, “Booty Call” and “Move Your Body”, which was the lead single. D’banj was featured on Ikechukwu’s 2008 hit, “Wind Am Well”.
July 2008 saw the release of D’banj’s third album, The Entertainer, with the singles “Gbono Feli Feli“, “Kimon“, “Olorun Maje” and “Entertainer“.
In June 2011, D’banj signed to Kanye West’s record label GOOD Music as an artist. On June 9, 2011, he wrote on his Twitter account, @iamdbanj, “It feels like yesterday me and my brother did Tongolo. 7 years later, Mo’Hits signed to GOOD Music. Best birthday present ever. God, thank you.
In September 2016, it was announced that D’banj had left GOOD Music.
He released an album titled King Don Come, featuring guest artists such as Gucci Mane, Wande Coal, Harrysong, Bucie, Busiswa, etc., in August. The album included the singles ‘It’s Not A Lie, El Chapo and the 2012 smash hit Oliver Twist’.
The Testimonial
With D’banj’s first album, he received his first endorsement from an energy drink called Power Fist. In May 2013, he was appointed as the ambassador of the Bank of Industry (BOI).
In November 2013, D’banj re-signed a multi-million Naira deal with Globacom, the company he parted ways with in 2010. In June 2014, he signed a deal with Heritage Bank.
In October 2014, D’banj was appointed as the official African ambassador for Beats by Dre. In February 2015, he was appointed as the official African ambassador for Ciroc Nigeria.
In an exclusive article in Tush Magazine Issue 11, Banky W and D’banj share more about how they became Ciroc Ambassadors.
In September 2015, D’banj became the brand ambassador of SLOT, a popular mobile phone and electronics retail company. He is currently one of the richest Afrobeats artists in Nigeria.
Personal life
D’banj married Lineo Didi Kilgrow in June 2016. He announced the birth of their son, Daniel Oyebanjo III, in May 2017; the child drowned in June 2018.
D’banj once dated Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji.
In June 2020, after D’banj posted on social media to “say no to rape”, Seyitan Babatayo accused him of raping her in 2018, saying she wanted to “[call] expose his hypocrisy.”
She then went missing for two days, and while she was missing, her social media posts suggested the allegations were a publicity stunt to support D’banj’s upcoming single. According to The Guardian, she was found with the help of the NGO Stand to End Rape (STER).
She said she was kidnapped by Nigerian police, who handed her over to D’banj’s management team, who took over her social media and made retracted posts. D’banj denied the allegations, calling them “false accusations and lies from hell.” Days later, Babatayo released a statement saying that she and D’banj had agreed to a “non-monetary” settlement, saying, “I just want my peace.”
On July 3, 2020, D’banj sued Babatayo for 1.5 billion naira. Shortly after, D’banj’s former manager Franklin Amudo reported that Babatayo told him that D’banj raped her the day after the alleged rape.
The 44-year-old musician spoke at the ‘Bliss Experience’, a church event hosted by music artist Moses Bliss.
In June 2018, Dbanj and his wife Lineo Didi Kilgrow were devastated by the loss of their one-year-old son, Daniel Oyebanjo III. At the time, the child was reported to have drowned in the swimming pool of the singer’s home in Ikoyi, Lagos. Thankfully, they have since welcomed their second child, Zane Oyebanjo.
Recalling this tragic incident, D’banj said God blessed him with not one but two children.
“What I mean is I am truly born again. When I say Jesus is Koko, I mean it. If anyone knows my story, for every album I make, I always honor those who deserve to be honored,” he can be heard saying.
“I always knew where I was coming from. Three years ago, I lost my first son. But God restored me. You will say things to people, and they will not relate because they believe you do not know what they have been through.
“But God will take you through a journey so that you can stand firm…[inaudible] Thank you so much. God bless you.
Awards & Nominations
- 2011 D’banj” Best International Act (Africa
- 2006 D’banj for “Tongolo” “Best Newcomer.”
- Best Male Video”
- 2007″Why Me””“Best Western African Video”“Best Special Effects Video”
- 2008 “Move Your Body” “Best Video from West Africa”.
- 2010 “Fall in Love” “Most Talented Afro Pop Artist”.
- 2011″Mr. Endowed (Remix)””Most Talented Male Video.” Most Talented Video of the Year”
- 2012″Oliver Twist””Most Talented Male Video Most Talented Video of the Year”
- 2013 “Tony Montana (Bad Pass) Remix.”(Naeto C featuring D’banj)Best Duo/Group/Video
- 2006 D’banj for “Tongolo” “Best Newcomer
- D’banj African Artist of the Year 2012
- 2006 D’banj “The Revelation of the Year
- 2007 “Why Me” “Song of the Year”.
- 2008D’banj “Artist of the Year.”
- 2009 The Entertainer.”Album of the Year”D’banj”Artist of the Year
- 2005 D’banj “Most Promising Male Artist.”
- 2012 D’banj for “Oliver Twist” “Best Actor in West Africa
- “D’banj, Best African Artist of 2008.”
- 2012 D’banj Best African Artist
Film
- 2006 Delta
- 2006 Socor
- 2006 Mobolowon
- 2015 Confidential starring Idris Elba
- 2015 Knock on My Door
- 2015 Salute featuring Ice Prince Zamani
- State of emergency 2016
- Superstar 2016
- 2017 Is Not A Lie
- 2017 El Chapo
- 2018 “Action” (Produced by Pheelz)
- 2018 “Agidi” (Produced by Chopstix)
- 2019″Mo Cover Eh” Featuring Slimcase
Discography
- No Long Thing Released: 2005
- Rundown Fuck You Up Released: 2006
- Entertainer
- King Don Come Released: 2017
- Resume
- D’Kings Men
- Tongolo” (featuring Tola HU)
- Nothing Lasts “Socor”
- “Mobolowon.”
- Funk U Up”
- Why me?
- Toniolo Remix”––––2008
- “Kimon”
- Entertainer
- Suddenly
- “Gbono Feli Feli”
- Entertainer”
- Fall in love
- Igwe
- Scapegoat
- Mr. Endowed (remix) featuring Snoop Dogg
- Cash Flow (with KaySwitch)
- Top of the world
- Final
- Ni*ga Feelings”––––2015
- Feeling a Nikka” (Remix) (with Akon)
- Special”
- “Frosh” (featuring Akon)
- Urgent”
- Concentrate
- That is not a lie”
- “El Chapo”
- King Don Come
- “Agidi”
- Senrere
- Issa Banger
- Should
- Work
- Shake It (featuring Tiwa Savage)
Net worth
As of this year, D’banj’s net worth is around US$30.1 million, making him one of the top 10 richest musicians in Nigeria.
Social media
