D’Banj: Afrobeats iconic entertainer deserves all the accolades since ’04
As D'banj celebrates two impactful decades of doing music, another artiste Yugatsno announces his intention to be the next big thing.
Drum rolls, parties, album launch and many other plans are underway to celebrate iconic Nigerian musician, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, famously known as D’banj, Banga Lee, or Kokomaster, among many other monikers.
D’banj clocks two decades in the Nigerian music industry, and this is no mean feat, especially when put in the context of his impact from the mid-2000s to the mid-2010s. Before the 43-year-old hitmaker hit the scene with hit single Tongolo, the likes of Eedris Abdulkareem, Tony Tetuila, Paul Play and 2Baba, who had successfully launched a solo career with African Queen, were dominating the scene.
From that point, along with Don Jazzy and the rest of the Mo’Hits crew, the Koko master never looked back as he helped evolve the Nigerian music scape, pop-wise and personality-wise. Don Jazzy’s evergreen beats served as the perfect appetiser for D’banj’s captivating music meal, bringing flair and a larger-than-life ‘African Michael Jackson’ personality to music and entertainment.
Slang expressions that defined pop culture originated from the award-winning artiste, while he elevated live show experience and stagemanship. On the international front, D’banj deserves credit for being a pioneer of the ‘Afrobeats to the World’ movement. While there have always been foreign stars of Nigerian descent, D’banj, as a homegrown star, was not satisfied with conquering Nigeria or Africa and proceeded to change the narrative.
Despite toxic reports of him joining the Illuminati and kowtowing to foreign superstars, D’banj landed collaborations with Snoop Dogg and Kanye West and even got signed to the latter’s G.O.O.D label in 2011. Deals with foreign labels and international collaborations are now commonplace, but a pioneer like D’banj had to ‘sell his soul’ to get them done, even when the home front didn’t encourage his international ambitions.
Snippets from his forthcoming album Since ‘04 show that he’s still got the spark, the prowess and that ‘entertainer’ figure that defined superstardom in Nigerian music. As an Afrobeats icon, he deserves all the accolades and more.
Why Yugatsno is an artiste you should know
Two decades have passed since ’04, but one constant thing is that the Nigerian music industry will continue to witness the emergence of talents. In 2024, one talent that you should know is Yugatsno.
Music started as more than a side passion for fast-rising music talent Yugatsno. It was like a calling, which he heeded before his teen years and took a bold step to record his first single at just age 14.
Born Amos Esuru, Yugatsno (if you dunno, then Yugatsno) is a Delta-born singer who grew up exposed to melodies, rap and pop music. Where others struggled to convince their families of their passion, the artiste got support from his immediate family and, in no time, became a popular name in his circles and in college. Now, he is on a mission to attain the heights that his idols – Wizkid, 2Baba, Don Williams and Burna – have reached, even surpass them.
With tracks such as Closer, Matter and Jo already under his belt, Yugatsno tells AfroDives,
“My dreams reach far and wide. I envision selling out shows at Wembley and arenas across the globe, where I can connect with millions of fans through my music.”
The Afrobeats singer’s latest offering, Whine, is regarded as the perfect soundtrack for setting the mood and creating unforgettable moments with one’s partner.
You can catch him via Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), YouTube or Facebook.
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