How far did D'banj think he would go blowing that ‘mouth organ’, his harmonica?
Does anyone even still remember the skinny young dude who arrived on the music scene with that funny thing in his mouth, a piece of musical equipment, the story goes, that his late brother gave to him as a gift before he passed?
D'banj must have realised how funny he looked blowing it, because he eventually made that skit in his debut where the choirmaster says to him: “go to the back and blow your head off.”
And blow he did and while we were laughing, he teamed up with Don Jazzy and blew his way to the bank vaults becoming one of Africa’s biggest musical exports of the last decade.
Dapo Daniel Oyebanji aka D'banj aka Skeebanj aka Koko Master aka Banger Lee aka Eja Nla is on a long thing.
Named by Channel O and Forbes as Africa’s fourth most bankable star, he has come a long way from the days of the harmonica, from the days of “If I tell dem the koko” and “Tongolo.”
Today, Dbanj is a bonafide international star, signed to Sony and Kanye West’s G.O.O.D music, and a sought after brand ambassador.
And you realise what all this actually means when you walk into a shop on Oxford Street and his monster chart-topping hit, Oliver Twist, is blasting from the speakers.
How did it all happen?
How did this IJGB (I Just Got Back), who used to hang out with JJC and the 419 Squad take over Nigeria, Africa and the world? How did D'banj become such a big fish, the Eja Nla that he is now?
Put it down to talent, smarts, swagger, sex appeal, charisma and love it or hate it, that chemistry between him and Don Jazzy who cooked the beats that powered D'banj’s vocals.
Theirs was a match made in musical heaven.
D'banj was a star before he was officially one. The dark glasses, the swinging pelvis, the ever silent partner, Don Jazzy who walked around with a cane and played the Don. Their shtick worked.
D'banj is not the best singer there is but put him on stage, set the stage alight, pump up the volume and he will blow the competition away. He is a born entertainer, with the swagger and charisma to charm and schmooze like the very best.
And MoHits was a hit with a cast of young and very interesting artistes who complimented one another. They had a formula that captured the imagination and had us all eating out of their palms.
D'banj was the Justin Timberlake of that crew, the primus inter pares and it was only a matter of time before he would grow too big.
Was it time? Was it the right move? Well, after winning the BET and the MOBO, the KORA and the Headies and after being signed on to G.O.O.D music what else was there to do but aim higher.
Today, he is brand ambassador for the Bank of Industry and headliner for the Hennessy Artistry, he owns DB records and hosts sold out concerts. He is sought after across continents and has played on the biggest stage in Africa, the African Nations cup for which he composed the theme music, and now Chanel O and Forbes have canonized him as the fourth most bankable star in Africa
It doesn't get more A-list than this. Dbanj is truly the Eja Nla.
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