Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly known by his stage name D’banj, was born on June 9, 1980, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. He is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, rapper, entrepreneur, television personality, and music executive, widely celebrated as one of the most influential African entertainers and a pioneer of modern Afrobeats on the global stage.
Early Life and Background
D’banj was born into a military family. His father was a Nigerian Army officer, while his mother worked as a church official and businesswoman. Because of his father’s military career, D’banj lived in several cities across Nigeria, which exposed him to diverse cultures and music styles. He attended Nigerian Military School, Zaria, for a brief period before transferring to another institution to complete his secondary education.
In his youth, D’banj developed a strong passion for music, learning to play the harmonica, an instrument that would later become one of his musical trademarks. His early influences included Fela Anikulapo Kuti, whose Afrobeat rhythms and activism deeply inspired him.
Music Career
Early Career and Mo’ Hits Records
D’banj’s professional music journey began after he met Don Jazzy (Michael Collins Ajereh), a talented music producer, while living in London. The two shared musical chemistry and in 2004, they returned to Nigeria to establish Mo’ Hits Records.
Under Mo’ Hits, D’banj released his debut album, “No Long Thing” (2005), which featured his breakthrough single “Tongolo.” The song was a massive hit and earned him the nickname “Koko Master”, symbolizing his confident, humorous, and flirtatious style.
His sophomore album, “Rundown Funk U Up” (2006), produced hit songs like “Why Me,” “Mobolowowon,” and “Tongolo (Remix).” These tracks solidified his reputation as a vibrant performer with a unique blend of Yoruba expressions, Pidgin English, and humor.
In 2008, D’banj released “The Entertainer,” which remains one of the most successful Nigerian albums ever produced. The project included chart-topping singles such as “Gbono Feli Feli,” “Fall in Love,” and “Suddenly.”
International Breakthrough
D’banj’s charisma and international appeal led him to global recognition. In 2011, he signed a major deal with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music label, becoming one of the first Nigerian artists to achieve that level of international partnership.
Under G.O.O.D Music, he released the global hit “Oliver Twist” (2012) — a fusion of Afrobeats and EDM (Electronic Dance Music). The song topped charts across Africa, the UK, and parts of Europe, peaking at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart. The accompanying video featured appearances from Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and Good Music members, further boosting his international profile.
Post–Mo’ Hits Era
After Mo’ Hits Records dissolved in 2012 due to internal disagreements, D’banj founded his own label, DB Records, signing artists such as KaySwitch (his younger brother), Tonto Dikeh, and 2Kriss.
Despite the split, D’banj maintained his star power, releasing singles like “Top of the World,” “Don’t Tell Me Nonsense,” “Emergency,” and “Bother You” (which appeared on the Half of a Yellow Sun movie soundtrack).
Entrepreneurship and Influence
Beyond music, D’banj is a prominent entrepreneur and philanthropist. He launched several business ventures, including:
Koko Holdings – encompassing products like Koko Water, Koko Mobile, and Koko Lounge.
C.R.E.A.M. Platform (Creative, Reality, Entertainment, Arts, and Music) – an initiative supporting young creative talents across Africa.
He has also served as a United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace and collaborated with international organizations for campaigns on youth empowerment and agriculture, such as ONE Campaign’s “Do Agric” initiative.
D’banj’s career is decorated with numerous awards and nominations, including:
MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act (2007)
BET Award for Best International Act: Africa (2011)
MTV Africa Music Awards – Artist of the Year (2009)
MOBO Award for Best African Act (2012)
The Headies – Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year (multiple wins)
His ability to fuse Afrobeats, pop, and dance music helped pave the way for the global success of Nigerian music today.
Personal Life
D’banj married Lineo Didi Kilgrow in June 2016, and they have children together. He has also experienced personal tragedy, notably the loss of his first son in 2018, which he has spoken about as a moment that reshaped his faith and perspective on life.
Legacy
D’banj is often hailed as a trailblazer of Afrobeats’ international expansion, credited for introducing African pop culture to mainstream audiences long before the global Afrobeats boom. His energetic performances, comedic lyrics, and bold personality have made him a cultural icon across Africa.
In summary:
Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo — D’banj, the Koko Master, remains one of Nigeria’s most influential entertainers. From co-founding Mo’ Hits Records with Don Jazzy to breaking into the global music scene with “Oliver Twist,” his career embodies innovation, charisma, and resilience — marking him as a cornerstone of the Afrobeats movement.
Nollywood actress Destiny Etiko has revealed that she lost ₦5 million after placing a bet during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, saying the experience has discouraged her from gambling again.
The actress disclosed this in a post shared on her Instagram handle on Monday, shortly after the conclusion of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
“First time betting and I lost . Will never try it again. My 5M gone . In fact am done watching football. Anxiety almost killed me,” she wrote.
Etiko, however, did not disclose the particular bet she placed or provide further details about how she lost the money.
Earlier, during the World Cup final, the actress shared a series of updates on her Instagram Story, indicating she was backing Argentina to defeat Spain.
In one post, she wrote, “Argentina all the way. Who can’t wait?”
As the match progressed, she appeared increasingly frustrated with Argentina’s performance, posting, “This ball tough o. Argentina is pissing me off.”
She also praised Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez for keeping the defending champions in the game, writing, “The goal keeper is the savior oo.”
PUNCH Online had reported that Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday.
Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the second period of extra time to hand Spain their second World Cup title, 16 years after their maiden triumph in South Africa in 2010.
Argentina played the closing stages with 10 men after midfielder Enzo Fernández was sent off for a second bookable offence, while Spain dominated possession before eventually finding the breakthrough through Torres.
The self-styled Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, was arrested last Tuesday by the Intelligence Response Team led by Chief Superintendent of Police, Moses Lohor.
It was learnt that Adeyemi was arrested between 11am and 12pm inside a building in the Ijebu-Ijesa area of Osun State.
The suspect’s arrest followed a bench warrant issued against him by a Federal High Court in Abuja after he allegedly failed to appear for arraignment on eight counts.
Giving details of the operation that led to the arrest, a senior police officer in the Osun State Police Command, in an interview with Punch, said Adeyemi’s location was first uncovered in the Aregbe-Fakule area of Osogbo on July 9 after evading tracking by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The police officer said Lohor’s team took over the tracking after the DSS withdrew from the case.
He added that the operatives eventually located Adeyemi in Ilesa and subsequently arrested him on Tuesday morning.
The source said, “The Moses Lohor team were in Osun for surveillance ahead of the August 15 governorship election. They were mapping hotspots and collating other intelligence. As a matter of fact, the Lohor team didn’t report to the Osun State Police Command. They operated from the area commander’s office at Oke-Fia in Osogbo.
“Adeyemi was already on their watch list, but they didn’t act because the case was being handled by the DSS. Adeyemi’s last known location tracked by the DSS was Ibadan, but they couldn’t apprehend him because he regularly switched off his phone.
“A senior police officer from Abuja informed the Lohor team about the DSS withdrawal on Wednesday. Lohor’s team then decided to track Adeyemi’s location on Thursday, July 9. Incidentally, he was located around the Aregbe-Fakule area of Osogbo.
“Luckily for them, late on Monday night, Adeyemi’s location showed he was around Ilesa, and the Lohor team intensified efforts, which led to his arrest on Tuesday morning. The team only informed the Osun State Commissioner of Police when they moved in to make the arrest.”
Adeyemi is reportedly being detained at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, from where he is expected to be arraigned on July 27.
Popular Nollywood actress in the Yoruba movie industry, Biola Fowosere, has opened up about the challenges she faced after her ex-husband left their marriage.
It was reports that Biola, during an interview on African A List, said her ex-husband abandoned her and their children despite not doing anything wrong in the union.
The thespian who broke down in tears during the interview said her ex-husband is the only person she would like to ask why he abandoned his family.
Biola also spoke about battling severe depression after the separation, spending one year and six months in the hospital while struggling to recover emotionally.
According to the movie star, she almost lost her sanity, adding that it has been seven years since they lost contact.
She said, “The only person I’d really want to ask a question is my ex-husband. I’d really like to ask him what I did wrong because I did nothing before he left me and the kids. I want to ask what my children and I did to deserve what he did to us,” she said.
“I spent one year and six months in the hospital battling depression after he left. I almost ran mad. We are not in contact. Since he left, we haven’t seen him. He blocked us seven years ago.”
