Nigerian music star, D’banj has revealed what actually led to his decision to pick music as a career. He always wanted to become a military man until a disaster occurred.
D’banj disclosed that going about with his father as a child across the country made him endure being a military man but a horrific event in his life changed his career choice.
“Although I was born in Kaduna state, I was always moving from one barracks to the next with my dad, so I grew living in every part of Nigeria, loving the whole military atmosphere and I wanted to be a superhero by saving the world but instead of carry the guns I carried the micro-phone.”
On how he lost his brother and developed his love for music, he said: “I lost my brother who was ahead of me in the military school and that changed my perspective a bit and my dad did not want any of us going through that line anymore. My brother wanted to be a pilot and ironically, he died in plane crash. I walked into his room and I saw all his clothes lined up and then I saw the ‘harmonica’. So I picked it up and everywhere I went I played it and music came. Today, I am D’banj.”
The DKM Record label boss admitted that the Nigerian entertainment industry has come a long way with parents now willingly allowing their children to join the trade.
“Ten years ago, if you told your mom after school that you wanted to be a musician, she would probably report you to your pastor or your Imam, your uncles or your aunties. Then, of course, your father would beat you. Today, every household wants an entertainer. Every household wants a musician, a comedian.”
D’banj is one of the most successful stars the Nigerian music industry has produced. His style of music, his entertaining skills are top notch and widely accepted both at home and abroad. He has won several awards such as the Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards, artist of the year at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009 and so many more.