FULL NAME: Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo
STAGE NAME : D’banj or (Dbanj)
NET WORTH : $13.5 million.
DATE OF BIRTH: Born 9 June 1980 (age 37)
PLACE OF BIRTH : Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
OCCUPATION: Nigerian musician, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur and television personality.
RECORD LABEL : DB Records, GOOD Music, Mercury, Sony Music Entertainment, ROCKSTAR4000 and RCA
MARITAL STATUS: Not Married
PARENTS : His father is a military officer while his mother a business woman
EDUCATION : Nigerian Military School , Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Ibara, Abeokuta and Lagos State University
Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo whose stage name is D’banj, is a Nigerian musician, singer-songwriter, businessman and television personality. D’Banj is a celebrated musician who has taken the music scene particularly in Africa by storm. Just like most Nigerian celebrities, D’Banj prefer to keep his private life out of the limelight, and very little is known about him. But here we are going to reveal things you might not have known about the entertainer talking about the lesser known facts you probably don’t know.
D’banj is a top Nigerian singer who has been there for decades and it will be considered just to quit music at this moment because he has really done a lot in the musical scene. The DB Records boss has bagged several awards including the awards for Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Evolution award at the 2015 MTV Africa Music awards, Best-selling African Artist at the 2014 World Music Awards, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009, Best International Act: Africa at the 2011 BET Awards and host of others. His code name D’banj was derived from a combination of his first name, Dapo, and his surname, Oyebanjo. D’banj is best known for his 2012 summer hit “Oliver Twist”, a song which topped the African charts 2011 and was a top 10 hit in the UK singles chart in 2012 reaching No. 2 on the UK R&B chart.
Early Life And Background
Nigerian artist D’banj (Dbanj) biography revealed that he was born on June 9, 1980 as Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo. The Nigerian singer is also known as the Kokomaster or Bangalee was born in Zaria, the northern part of Nigeria to a military father and devout, business woman mother, from Ogun State, Nigeria. His father is a military man who commanded an artillery regiment while his mother is a church dignitary mother and a devoted business woman who hailed from Shagamu in Ogun State. Owing to the nature of his father’s job that came with transfers and relocations, D’banj’s family moved very often within Nigeria and later moved to England.
Immediately after completing secondary education, his father planned for him to join the military too he sent D’banj off to a Nigerian military school as early as when he was 11. He was enrolled into the school but he resisted the system and eventually left the school after three years. While at the Military school he was a member of the elite drum corp of the Nigerian Army. He later proceeded to another military owned institution Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Ibara, Abeokuta where he was a church worker. He managed to complete his secondary school education at Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Ibara, Abeokuta . His late older brother, Femi Oyebanjo, who died in a plane crash at age seventeen taught him how to play harmonica . D’Banj struggled to start his music career as it was against his father’s wish. His father’s plan for him was to join the military immediately after completing secondary education but Dbanj childhood ambition was to become musician which made him payed deaf ears to his dad, he persisted and eventually managed to pursue his childhood dream.
Following the death of his 17-year-old brother, D’banj picked up his harmonica. “I’d play it to remember him”. He later got used to playing harmonica and at some point he realised he could make a living with that instrument. He then proceeded to the Lagos State University to study Mechanical engineering but couldn’t finish as a result of the incessant strikes and several irregularities in the school . He decided to complete his studies as a mechanical engineer in London, getting to UK in 2001, and met Don Jazzy who was trying to make it as a songwriter and producer.
Music Career
His career as a musician kicked off when he travelled to the UK and met the JJC & 419 Squad and he was welcomed into the group alongside Don Jazzy. Don Jazzy and D’banj in no time left the group to form “Mo’ hits group”. D’banj story in the Nigerian music scene changed when he released his first album- “No Long thing” in 2005 and he has remained one of the biggest music merchant in Nigeria music industry till date. This album produced several hit with “Tongolo” as the lead single . In 2006 D’banj’s released his second studio album titled “Rundown Funk U Up” the album yielded several singles including the club single, Tongolo (Remix), and the lead single Why Me?. This proved to be another hit. As a member of Mo’ Hits Records, he contributed greatly to the success of the label along side Dr SID, Wande Coal, KaySwitch, and D’Prince who were also member of the label.
His Curriculum Vitae was released in December 2007, it was supported by hit singles like “Be Close To You”, “Booty Call” and “Move Your Body”. He released his third album, “The Entertainer” in 2008 with the singles “Gbono Feli Feli”, “Kimon”, “Olorun Maje” and “Entertainer” in front line. In June 2011, D’banj was signed to Kanye West’s “G.O.O.D Music” record label as an artiste . D’banj has released 4 albums since 2005 which makes him one of the most industrious Nigerian singer today. some of his best songs include; Tongolo [off No Long thing album], Gbono feli feli, Run down, Fall in love , and Mr Endowed featured American rapper- Snoop Dog on the remix.
D’banj has won numerous awards including 2012 MTV best African artist, 2011 BET award as the best African artist [scroll down for the complete awards]. After getting signed to Good music , a label owned by American rapper Kanye west , he graced international stage with some of the best International musicians like JayZ, Kanye West, Snoop Dog ,and Kelly Rowland. He has also performed at Femi Kuti’s new Afrikan Shrine in Ikeja, Lagos as well as the Shrine Synchro System’s regular London Night at Cargo. He co-organized one of the most anticipated events of the season, ‘Koko Concert’. The show consisted of D’Banj, Don Jazzy, Dr SID, Wande Coal, D’Prince and guest appearances from Tunde Ednut and May7ven. Rumor has it that he has dated famous actress- Genevieve Nnaji and Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari.
Apart from music, D’Banj is also an actor. He has been featured in several short films, including Kanye West’s film “Cruel Summers’’. This is besides many other Nollywood productions that he has featured in. D’Banj is one of the
richest musicians on the African continent. D’Banj was ranked the fourth richest artist in Africa according to a list released in September 2013 by Forbes Africa and Channel O. He charge somewhere between $31,000 and a further $44,200 as performance fee for any local shows he appears in. This figure is higher when he performs internationally.
Endorsement Deals
- His first endorsement was for energy drink called Power Fist.
- In September 2015,D’banj was made the brand ambassador of SLOT, a popular mobile phone,
- and electronic gadget retail outfit.
- In May 2013, D’banj was named the Bank of Industry (BOI) ambassador.
- In November 2013, D’banj re-signed a multi-million Naira deal with Globacom after leaving the
- brand in 2010.
- In October 2014, D’banj was named the official African ambassador for Beats by Dre
- In June 2014 D’Banj Secures Deal With Heritage Bank.
- In February 2015, D’banj was named the official African ambassador for Ciroc Nigeria.
- He signed a mega deal with Dugout UK yesterday
Awards
D’banj has won several awards and we are going to list a few
- Most Promising Male Artist at The Kora Awards in 2005.
- Artist of the Year at the Uniport Awards in 2008
- Artist of the Year Award at the Global Excellence Awards in 2007
- Artist of the Year at the Hip Hop World Awards in 2008
- Revelation of the Year at the Hip Hop World Awards in 2006
- Artist of the Year Award at the City People Awards in 2007
- Best Afro Pop of the Year Award at the Nigerian Music Awards US in 2007
- Artist of the Year at the Nigerian Music Awards in 2006
- UK Role Model Award at the Delta State University Awards in 2006
- Hottest Single of the Year Award at the Nigerian Music Awards US in 2007
- Best Special Effects Award at the Channel O Music Awards in 2007
- Best New Comer award at the Channel O Music Awards in 2006
- Song of the Year award at the Hip Hop World Awards in 2007
- Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2007
- Musician of the Year at the Future Awards in 2008
- African Artist if the Year Award at the Ghana Music Awards in 2007
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