Anchored by Chika Odua, below are extracts from the interview:
Chika: Did you ever dream of being this big in music?
D’banj: I dreamt about this…(Jokes: I’ve a dream!) God is using us to take our message across from Africa to here.
Chika: Did you ever dream of being this big in music?
D’banj: I dreamt about this…(Jokes: I’ve a dream!) God is using us to take our message across from Africa to here.
Chika: You are the face of African Pop music don’t you feel a lot of pressure?
D’banj: Yes a lot of pressure but I have nothing to be scared of. I have much responsibility.
Chika: There are rumors that you are dating Genevieve Nnaji how true is that?
D’banj: No! We are not dating.
Chika: What is your status?
D’banj: I’m very single. I like Rihanna, I’m interested in her.
Chika: Will you Americanize your music now that you are working mostly in America…, (D’banj cuts in)
D’banj: What do you mean by Americanize?
Chika: I mean you use a lot of pidgin and yoruba in your music will you still do that?
D’banj: Yes I’ll, did you hear scapegoat? fall in love or oliver twist? I do music depending on the message and who I want it to suite.
Chika: So will you maintain the identity?
D’banj: I think American music is universal so I’ve a lot of work to do.
Chika: Ok, now on your interview with the President of Nigeria, there are talks that you collected money from him to sing and interview him.
D’banj: 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.
Chika: 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?
D’banj: I have much responsibility. I represent Africa, I represent Nigeria…do your research.
Chika: What was your take on the Occupy Nigeria and the fuel subsidy removal?
D’banj: 1st of all, lets take a minute silence for those who lost their lives during this period
Chika: Ok D’banj we really appreciate that, so carry on.
D’banj: I did not know anything that was happening [in Nigeria during protests] because I was working on my album in the UK.
Chika: But there was a protest in London why didn’t you participate?
D’banj: I didn’t know anything that was happening in London about the feul 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.
Chika: So what do you have to say?
D’banj: I don’t have anything to say, I wasn’t in the country when it was happening.
Chika: But I wasn’t in the country also.
D’banj: 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… (Chika cuts in)
Chika: So who operates your twitter handle?
D’banj: I operate it but I’m not always online, I’m on twitter when I want to pass an information not when you want me to.
Chika: There has been increase in poverty in Nigeria what do you have to say about this?
D’banj: 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.
Chika: Thank you very much D’banj. We appreciate the time you spent with us, we wish you all the best in your concert tomorrow.
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d'banj is an idiot! A big liar and a thief.
ReplyDeletedoes it really mean that Banji as forgoten so soon, that he was also born without a silver spoon. Are we talking about politics here or D
ReplyDeleteFuture of our Father Land. So what Banji mean is dat everyone who participate in the fuel subsidy removals protest is a politician. You're a Disgrace 2 humanity D'banj 4 ur in-ability 2 be ur self and speak your mind 4 The sake of the people. Had it been U're still on d street hustling, am sure U will have something to say. Fool.
Dbanj you are not representing us sir, you are selfish and deluded. You found it very difficult to speak up against oppression and graft.
ReplyDeleteIf the people are poor how will they afford to buy your cds or come for your concerts or you think the government took you off the streets?
You are a very bad influence on our morals as a people and as a nation.
May God expose you and soon at that!
Disappointed. Adopting an escapist strategy only potrayed him as a muntu. He is giving us the impression that the only way he gets news is to go out. So cold weather shuts him out of the world. What a hibernate fellow
ReplyDeleteBig fool dt what u r, d'banj
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmn, i can't believe Dbanj is saying this.
ReplyDeleteDbanj you are nothing but AN IDIOT, I KNOW THAT THE NEMESIS of your IDIOTIC & FOOLISH WORDS WILL CAUGHT YOU SOON.
ReplyDeletewhat do you expect to critize the hand that is feeding him, the petroleum minister children will break his head
ReplyDeleteis a member of illuminating in american now how did you expect good statement to come out of him beware i pity those that are listing to his music. watch and pray because devil is using music to lure people into is kingdom
ReplyDeleteDbanji! Dbanji!! Dbanji oooo!!! You are a big fool for your utterances on the removal of fuel subsidy. Ask people around you about Sir Shina Peters and his likes on their participation in the 'one million march' during abacha's regim. Today, where are these ones in their careers. Government comes, government goes and this current government will follow suite, but Nigeria will remain.Do you want your career/talent to go with them as their parting gift? Better make amendments!
ReplyDeleteAll of u calling DBanj fool are bigger fools. u expect him to go 2 the street & demonstrate on what he has no information on, like most of u did. Big fools
ReplyDeletestupid D'banj. How can he say that he doesn't know about the Occupy Nigeria protest? it is good to be dogmatic in an interview but i hate it when people lie.
ReplyDeleteD'banj is a blatant liar!!!!
D'banj! D'banj!! D'baaaaanj!!! Hmmmmmmm...
ReplyDeletePray for God's divine guideance nd protection.
Dbang Dbang Dbang
ReplyDeleteEh o! D'Banj was in planet mars abi jupiter. Those places actually have satellite coverage!
ReplyDeleteBush Baby, Bla Bla Bla
USe that pea in your head that has the semblance of a brain. You mean to tell us that not even ur friends called you frm Nigeria.
Fake!
Dapo, don't have much to tell you. I pity your generation! Muntula. The truth you shy from, will face you later.
ReplyDeleteWell, don't have much to say. I feel d the person dat asked if its the government that buys his cd's and pays for concert.
ReplyDeleteHow deluded can one get. But anyways, what I see here is the exact same tin the rulers of this country are doing. D'banj is a true politician for lying to our faces n talking about cold and representing africa and Nigeria,by how pls? Singing do u like d koko? And u think that's the most u can do.
Chop ur money my brother, but don't be fooled n dont think we are stupid.
It is a big shame that D'banj pretended that he didn't know about the fuel subsidy protests. He lied. If he was this uninformed, how then can he claim to represent AfRica and Nigeria. And what moral authority does he have to represent the youth? Shame on you.
ReplyDeleteHey u, yes u who wrote this" All of u calling DBanj fool are bigger fools. u expect him to go 2 the street & demonstrate on what he has no information on, like most of u did. Big fools'
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious you are more stupid than Dbanj. He says he represents the African youths. See the stupid and unintelligent answers he is giving to sensitive matters that affect a population of not less than 150m less those milking the nation dry. For Dbanj not to know about the subsidy crises in his own country when Nigerians abroad were demonstrating in their country of residence even in the UK where he claimed he was, bros or sister, you and Dbanj stupidity NO GET BOUNDARY. It is better u keep silent on matters to which you don’t have the right answer.
it is obvious Dbanj does not want to speak on the issue of fuel subsidy removal out of cowardice. No one is saying that he has to support the Occupy Nigeria Group if he thinks otherwise.
ReplyDeleteYou are entitled to your own opinion. You shld not be indifferent to the problems of Nigeria because you seem to have made it in life cos PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL.
You do not have be a politician before contributing to political issues.
That is Nigeria I dont blame D Banj or whatever he is called.Since any rif raf becomes famous for the rubish songs they write and sing. Just listen to the lyrics of this THING you don't find an atom of intelligence or substance now look at the excerpts of this interview absolute nonsense.He should please stop saying its representing Nigerian and African youths.This can never be a true representation of Nigeria or Africa.Just continue to do your rubbish songs and appear with snoopy and so on but not representing the Nigerian Youth that is far beyond your capacity
ReplyDeleteDapo, Dapoooo, Dapooo ooooooooooooo, se ki se pe ogun lakaye osinmole fe fi eje re we? Iwo omo ale jati jati, ekeji aja............ Very stupid. No long thing.......
ReplyDeleteY'all hate truth... I told ya all the truth. I've done m y best off interview, not until I saw what ya all wanna hear.
ReplyDelete