The legendary Dapo Oyebanji contributed to my life’s soundtrack. In his prime, the man was glorious. Way before the word “Aura” became a throwaround, D’banj embodied it. D’Banj was the quintessential ‘steeze’ gad. The self-acclaimed koko master once made harmonicas mainstream in Nigeria. He was a fashion-savvy entertainer who delivered classics like ‘Tongolo’ ( 2006), ‘Mobolowowon’ (2006), ‘Why Me’ (2006), ‘Falling in Love’ (2008), ‘Mo Gbono Feli Feli (2008), ‘Suddenly’ (2008), ‘ Scapegoat’ (2010), ‘Mr Endowed’ (2010), ‘ the intercontinental hit, ‘Oliver Twist’ ( 2012), and more.
D’Banj was an Afrobeats rockstar who won the hearts of Nigerians and fans worldwide. But like many singers who arrived before Dbanj’s time, his momentum in the mainstream soon elapsed.
Much of D’banj’s fade from fame was a by-product of his infamous fallout with longtime business partner and friend, Don Jazzy. The magnetic duo who were once inseparable had parted ways due to irreconcilable differences ( at the time). It was a blurry season for the entertainer, and while he tried riding solo without the low-end adlibs of his day-one wingman, he soon found a rude re-awakening: the audience had moved on.
The superstar, faced with travails of his own, which included the tragic loss of a child, soon faded from most listener’s active memory. Also, his repetitive break from the scene made it easier for fans to forget. This development meant the relinquishment of an ace star to the honorable and ‘retired’ position of Afrobeats veteran – a suitable position if you asked this writer.
To be fair, D’Banj did try to make a comeback but failed via commercially tanking projects – 2017’s ‘King Don Come’, and 2021’s ‘Stress-Free, Chapter 1’. However, his latest project, a sequel to his 2008 commercially successful album, ‘The Entertainer’ makes a good case for a comeback attempt.
D’Banj’s new album is right on time, a souvenir from his twenty-year career celebration. It is proper timing. No better time to emerge with a comeback attempt. The singer makes good use of the momentum, burying hatchets with old pals, and blending easily with new sonics.
The thirteen-track body of work makes it clear that D’Banj is still at the peak of his prowess even though the spotlight no longer adorns him like it used to. The iconic performer makes a good case for a cultural chameleon who adapts beautifully to the sound of a younger generation- the inherent markings of an entertainer.
His choice of collaborators is rather interest-piquing in the sense that as much as D’Banj tries to fit in with the sounds of today, he remains loyal to the legends of yesterday, incorporating stars such as America’s Wyclef Jean ( I AM LEGEND), Senegal’s Youssou N Dour (Worthy), and DRC’s Awilo Longomba ( Kala) into the picture. Perhaps this is not a comeback album, more than it is a celebration of cultures through music.
