D’banj speaks on marriage, says he sometimes miss being a bachelor

Popular singer and entertainer, Dapo Oyebanjo, aka D’banj, has opened up about his life as a married man.

D’banj said that though he is happy he got married at the time he did, he sometimes misses being a bachelor.

Speaking shortly after being unveiled as a judge on the music reality show, Nigerian Idol, he said, “It is very important for me when I say that I am so happy I got married for the right reason. There are reasons people do certain things and if one does it for the wrong reason, it would affect one. I got to a stage in my life when I needed to grow an empire and in order for one to do that, one has to be stable and have a best friend as a partner. One also has to be true to oneself. I pray to God a lot and the Bible says, ‘He who finds a wife, finds a good thing’. I got married to my best friend, who knows and understands everything about me. Because of that, we could grow together. Yes, once in a while, one misses those days (of being a bachelor). But, I am happy because that is the difference between Dapo Oyebanjo and Dbanj, the Koko Master. Whenever I get on stage anywhere, I become the Koko Master. It (marriage) has not reduced the amount of kokolets (ladies) that flock around me and rush to the stage. However, one has to be committed to one person and that is what life is.”

D’banj, who has never participated in any music reality show, noted that he accepted to be a judge in the competition because he believes in grooming and encouraging talents. He said, “This is the first time I would be a judge (on a music reality show). I have done several things through the years but this is the first time I would be doing something like this.

“I accepted the offer because first, I am a Nigerian. Secondly, I think there is no better time than now because of the growth of the industry. The growth of the industry is such that it is important for us to embrace what God has given us. This is a journey we have been on for over a decade and we have been accepted globally. That is why it is important to ‘grow’ what is on the ground.”

D’banj also stated that he had decided to focus more on his business for now. He said, “I tell people that music gets one into the room but what one does in the room is entirely up to one. Since I became a family man, I have been more focused. This is my sixth year of marriage and since then, I have looked for different platforms (to do business). Only about 10 per cent of the wealth of top musicians like Jay Z and Kanye West come from music. The rest is from their business ventures.”

The singer, who recently unveiled his perfume line, however stated that he would still continue to release songs. He said, “Music is forever going to be in me. We grew up not having anybody to look up to but now in the industry, there are people to look up to. I won’t say music is not profitable. But, having the luxury lifestyle that one wants goes beyond music alone.”

On if there is any chance of him still collaborating with Don Jazzy, the singer said, “If we are paid ‘big’ money. Somebody wanted to pay us last year (2021) but it was Don Jazzy that moved it. He won’t like that I said it was him but that is the truth. We are all connected in a group and they said we would do Mo’Hits Reunion but I was out of the country then. But, Don Jazzy later said we should move it to 2022, so that we would do it bigger. So, it is Don Jazzy you should ask. We are (still) friends.”