Nigerian Afro beat star D’Banj has taken the international music scene by storm. Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo took D’Banj as his stage name, incorporating a combination of his first and last names. Topping charts around the world, he is known for his unique Afro beat-electronic sound. Here are 10 things you didn’t about D’Banj, the hit artist.
- D’Banj was on track to follow his father’s military career: D’Banj was enrolled in the Nigerian Military School at age 11, but decided to quit the school after three years. During this time, he was a member of the elite drum corps, before he moved to the Nigerian Navy Secondary School to finish his secondary education.
- His love of the harmonica comes from his late older brother: D’Banj’s older brother, Femi Oyebanjo, tragically died in a plane crash at the age of 17. Femi’s harmonica was one of the few items retrieved from the wreckage and D’Banj appropriated it and began to cherish the instrument. His skill is self-taught, – a touching tribute to his older brother.
- D’Banj briefly studied mechanical engineering: After receiving his secondary school degree, D’Banj briefly attended the University of Lagos in 1999, where he studied mechanical engineering before leaving early to pursue music.
- His parents have not always supported his dream: D’Banj hit song, “All The Way,” is about the struggles he faced with his parents over his chosen career. His father in particular continued to hold out hope that he would pursue the military.
- D’Banj is the first African artist to be signed by Kanye West’s record label G.O.O.D Music: In June 2011, D’Banj was signed to Kanye’s record label GOOD Music. That was the beginning of his troubles with Mo’hits crew.
- He was appointed as Nigeria’s first U.N. Youth Ambassador for Peace: D’Banj is the founder of the Koko Foundation for Youth and Peace Development, an organization dedicated to helping underserved Nigerian children in around Lagos and Abuja. D’Banj also uses his platform and voice to discuss international affairs. He recently condemned the Boko Haram kidnapping of Nigerian schoolgirls and urged the international community to take swift action.
- D’Banj is rumored to have recently joined the Illuminati: There’s an entirely unverified rumor that D’Banj and Don Jazzy split because D’Banj joined the international occult group, the Illuminati. The rumor mills turned even quicker when Don Jazzy donated all the proceeds from his production catalog to charity, supposedly to avoid keeping “dirty money.”
- D’Banj credits Fela Kuti as his inspiration to this day in his music: D’Banj incorporates many of the same Afro beats as the legendary Afro beat master, Fela Kuti. Similarly, D’Banj performs in Yoruba, English, and Pidgin English, much as Fela Kuti did.
- He has been linked with a variety of African celebrities: Given his fame, D’Banj has not surprisingly been linked with a variety of women, including Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji and Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari.
- D’Banj briefly had his own reality show, “Koko Mansion”: In 2009, D’Banj hosted his own reality TV show, “Koko Mansion.” The setup was similar to America’s “The Bachelor.” Twelve women, referred to as “Kokolets,” competed to win his heart.
Culled from afkinsider.com
