Nigerian music star Dapo Oyebanjo, known as D’Banj, has unveiled the details of his highly anticipated fifth studio album, including cover artwork, track listing, and release date.
The new project, ‘Entertainer—The Sequel,’ is available for pre-save from 23 July and will be released on 16 August.
The album is best described as a creative blend of Afrobeats and Afropop, with eleven songs and two bonus tracks.
The new album, a follow-up to his 2008 magnum opus, ‘The Entertainer,’ includes collaborations with Nigerian musicians Phyno, Timaya, Kayswitch, Zlatan, Peruzzi, Bhadboi Oml and Chuchu Lee. As part of his legacy to mentor and showcase the following big talents, D’Banj also featured Specikinging off his talent discovery project, Cream Platform.
Sharing his excitement, D’Banj said, “Life is a maze of self-discovery, and my new album, ‘Entertainer – The Sequel’, confirms this truth. It truly reflects my growth as an artist and my continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of African music. The past 20 years have been an incredible ride, and I am grateful for the support and love I have received. I am thrilled to share this new chapter in my musical journey with my fans.”
D’Banj continues his 20-year on-stage milestone with intimate live performances and concerts across major cities worldwide in partnership with creative powerhouse The Temple Company. He will also connect with fans via exclusive meet-and-greet events, mentoring sessions, and engaging thought-leadership interactions.
Meanwhile, as a buildup to the album release, D’Banj released ‘Worthy,’ a song and visual collaboration with icon and Grammy Award winner Youssou N’Dour and NBC’s The Voice first runner-up Chechi Sarai on Friday.
The new track uses romantic love as a powerful metaphor for the artistes’ love for Africa, while the video is a cross-cultural showcase of music, culture, and place.
Speaking about the song, D’Banj said, “When we come together, we honour our heritage and unlock our borderless potential to lead the world. The future belongs to a united Africa, worthy of her dreams and aspirations.”
Youssou N’Dour said, “Africa, our home, is filled with beauty and worthiness. I feel a special connection to our land and people and will always celebrate that connection.
D’Banj earned the moniker ‘The Entertainer’ early in his career. He was one of the pioneers who laid the building blocks of Afrobeats’ global footprint, with achievements including a 2010 international collaboration with American rap legend Snoop Dogg on Mr Endowed (Remix) and a 2011 global deal with Kanye West and his GOOD Music.
D’Banj became the first Nigerian musician to chart on the number nine spot on the UK Singles Chart with his monster hit, ‘Oliver Twist.’
His extensive global collaborations include working with stars such as Bono, Big Sean, Idris Elba and Fally Ipupa.
His music has attracted significant awards and recognitions from BET, MTV Africa Music Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, Soundcity Music Awards, Channel O Music Video Awards, The Headies and Nigeria Entertainment Awards.
Tracklist
Album Title: Entertainer – The Sequel
Track 1 – World Famous
Track 2 – Healer feat. Peruzzi
Track 3 – Kala feat. Awilo Logomba
Track 4 – Yours Truly feat. Phyno
Track 5 – Koko
Track 6 – Serious feat. Chuchu Lee
Track 7 – Since 04
Track 8 – My Melody
Track 9 – Worthy feat. Youssou N’Dour & Chechi Sarai
Track 10 – Peaky Blinders feat DJ Maphorisa
Track 11 – I Am Legend feat Wyclef Jean & XX
Bonus Tracks
Taya feat. Timaya, Kayswitch, Zlatan, Bhadboi Oml, Specikinging
Koko Remix Feat. Akon.
