By Osagie Alonge
On the eve of his New York debut, Mo’Hits/G.O.O.D Music act Dapo ‘D’banj’ Oyebanjo was interviewed by online news agency Sahara Reporters where he talked about his style of music, rumoured affair with Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji, his political stance and his non-involvement with the recent Occupy Nigeria protest carried out across the world.
The entertainer will be performing at the Irving Plaza where the Live Nation concert will be going on today, Sunday, February 19, 2012.
Did you ever dream of being this big in music?
I dreamt about this. God is using us to take our message across from Africa to here.
You are the face of African Pop music don’t you feel a lot of pressure?
Yes a lot of pressure but I have nothing to be scared of. I have much responsibility.
There are rumours that you are dating Genevieve Nnaji how true is that?
No! We are not dating.
What is your status?
I’m very single. I like Rihanna, I’m interested in her.
Will you Americanize your music now that you are working mostly in America?
What do you mean by Americanize?
I mean you use a lot of pidgin and Yoruba in your music will you still do that?
Yes I will. Did you hear ‘Scapegoat’, ‘Fall in love’ or ‘Oliver twist’? I do music depending on the message and who I want it to suite.
So will you maintain the identity?
I think American music is universal so I’ve a lot of work to do.
Ok, now on your interview with the President of Nigeria, there are talks that you collected money from him to sing and interview him.
I didn’t collect money from the President. It wasn’t an interview it was a request, watch the interview I asked the President and I can remember the statements ‘What are your plans for the Nigerian youth?’ Because I dedicated a track to him so I wanted the people to know why I said I was going to vote for him, I wanted them to know his plans.
We understand you run a foundation and you were appointed as the United Nations youth ambassador for peace, with your position what are your responsibilities and what have you done with you position?
I have much responsibility. I represent Africa, I represent Nigeria…do your research.
What was your take on the Occupy Nigeria and the fuel subsidy removal?
First of all, let’s take a minute silence for those who lost their lives during this period (a minute silence is observed)
Ok D’banj we really appreciate that, so carry on.
I did not know anything that was happening [in Nigeria during protests] because I was working on my album in the UK.
But there was a protest in London why didn’t you participate?
I didn’t know anything that was happening in London about the fuel protest because I was working… I am not a politician! And everyone that knows me well knows I don’t like cold, so I couldn’t go outside.
So what do you have to say?
I don’t have anything to say, I wasn’t in the country when it was happening.
But I wasn’t in the country also.
I’ve told you I don’t want to say anything about that topic, I don’t say what I don’t know anything about, If you know me very well I speak about what I know. I will not speak on something that I don’t know about. You will not get me to speak about what I don’t know. I wish my publicist told me that this was a political interview…
So who operates your twitter handle?
I operate it but I’m not always online, I’m on twitter when I want to pass information not when you want me to.
There has been increase in poverty in Nigeria what do you have to say about this?
Yes I know, but poverty has always been in Nigeria. Let us focus on what we have, why are you hammering on negativity? I’ll speak from the angle that I know well which is the entertainment that is what I know we can export, we should invest our talents to escape from poverty. I’ve a concert tomorrow, I need to practice and prepare well so I can represent Africa well.
Thank you very much D’banj. We appreciate the time you spent with us; we wish you all the best in your concert tomorrow.
21 comments
d banj has disappointed Nigerians, he doesn t care ABOUT THIS COUNTRY
Dbanj wat goes up comes down…I pray u build a home in d sky as u ve decided to turn ur back on d ordinary man on d street..how insensitive of u to say u don’t knw about Occupy naija?!! U dey mental?!!! Lastly Nigerians are foolish cos how can dey celebrate a cocky,ingrate and an idiot like u?
D’banj u are a disgrace and stop deceiving urself bcos everyone knows u collected money 4rm Goodluck Jonathan.U better be careful otherwise u may lose the interest we nigerians have in you.
D.banj …or wat is ur name u dont want to know anyting about ur country is bad …
My guy dbanji funny sha! Lmao
U ar a fool
No long tin an d banj. Plz mind ur buisnes nigerians am not your’s mate’s. I care’s abouth yous but right now am busy plz. Make una try ocupy una own mata live me nd kanye to make money tru our gud music .too bad
OMg hmmmmmn hw funny….Naija finz noni…I jst love dis broadcaster…awesome human being…God bless u jare….
Shit! shouldnt haf bought this guys first album………….Can u imajine the talk? i hate cold. Does that make sense.
Be rest assured u will consume your next album alone?
@Everyone,u guys shld pls take it easy wiv this guy.It’s obvious he was deffo not prepared for the interview and all that he had on his mind as at that point in time,was his concert the next day.He is not insensitive.Pls,lets all take note.Agreed,he tried to avoid some questions for reasons best known to him but am thinking we don”t need to be too harsh on him.He”s very passionate abt the less priviledged ppl and does so so much thru his foundation.Ignore some of the comments frm him which may have seemed unsatisfactory,i bet he dint mean to sound slighlty insensitive….One”love!
OMG! I really use to like this guy & always root for him but damn! This interview just potrayed him as a really corky & insensitive jerk! Whatever man,the fame always has a way of dealing with people like this.
sucker dbanj, saying he doesn’t know about ocuppy naija is pissing me off
is it only d’banj pls just leave him alone.d guy is a good guy bt he fuckup small.africa no 1 artist.
oo badt wht i no iz dat u ar nt d num 1 artist in dis 9ja all bcos u hav featurin foreign artist,donzint mean u shld be sayn non sense.vry proud
@all of u dat abuse D’banj una mama n fada wat does an entertainer has wit politics gosh y r sum people so fucked up hatin on a broda cuz of his success…D’banj u too much joor
You guys have to think before you pass a comment here…The presenter is try to put words into his mouth and you know these are sensitive issues even Obasanjo who broght Jonathan to Office has not comment on occupy nigeria and subsidy removal uptill now…so dont blame dbanj cos its not even to manage fame when u are a star
You guys have to think before you pass a comment here…The presenter is try to put words into his mouth and you know these are sensitive issues even Obasanjo who broght Jonathan to Office has not comment on occupy nigeria and subsidy removal uptill now…so dont blame dbanj cos its not essay to manage fame when u are a star
Useles person like dbanj or na dbad, mtcheew, wetin he dey talk wey sweet am 4 mouth. I pray make he die make 4 U S make him come c how dem go do his corpse. Idiat boy. Oloshi. Òmó alè naija.
hahahaha lmfao ooo..dbanj u funny die..wat re dey occupyin u answerd diplomatically d interviewer wantd to put words into his mouth….i don laff die..punch line ‘hammerin
D’banj you really funny man..America don shook for your eyes,you don’t want to know anything about Nija again you no dey date Genevive again nar Rihanah you want again..you b bastard