By Naliaka Wafula

D’banj is exuberant. Wyclef, Grammy award-winning Wyclef Jean formely of the Fugees just referred to him as the African Michael Jackson. " Is it true? Tell me, did he say D’banj is the African Michael Jackson-o?" He is gushing and he knows it. It’s no mean feat to get props from Wyclef who has worked with countless artistes and definitely knows a good thing when he see’s it.

Wyclef, amazed at the Nigerian singer’s drive (D’banj had been rehearsing for over five hours) had likened him to the late Michael Jackson who was renown for his rigorous rehearsal schedule.

D’banj had already claimed the moniker in his song Mo Gbona Feli Feli but to have Wyclef echo his sentiments is just too much. He vows to refer to himself as the African Michael Jackson for the rest of his stay in Kenya. He is also in search of a nickname from his Kenyan fans, "In Ghana they call me Mensah, South Africa they call Kabela, in Jamaica they call Skibanj, my Kenyan fans must also find something to call me!"

Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo aka the Koko Master is a 29-year-old singer, songwriter and a gifted harmonica player. "I include the harmonica in most of my songs and if you listen closely you will hear it". He also plays the piano but the harmonica is his first love. The instrument holds a special place in his heart.

D’banj

His brother, Femi, who died in a plane crash at the age of 17 also played the harmonica and D’banj who was 15 at the time inherited his harmonica. It was one of the few personal belongings recovered from the crash. He has single-handedly mastered the instrument and uses it liberally in his music.

"If I wasn’t singing I’d probably be a record label music executive," says D’banj who also happens to possess good business acumen. " I invest my money in properties, diamonds, businesses…" The artiste’s music was doing so well, Nigerian music pirates bought him a BMW in gratitude. His entrepreneurial spirit is what has seen him trail blaze the entertainment industry. As the artiste with the most lucrative endorsement deals in Nigeria, The Koko Master opened a club five months ago called Koko Lounge. He also has his own line of clothing called Koko Wear, his own range of mobile phones called Koko Mobiles and even has his own reality show — Koko Mansion that recently concluded it’s first season.

"Koko Mansion was an idea based around my status as a successful bachelor, it’s a quest to find the ideal Nigerian woman".

In the show, 12 contestants known as Kokolettes, battled it out in a bid to win a Chris Aires Diamond ring, A brand new convertible car, 5Million Naira and be D’banj’s escort to events in and out of Nigeria for a year. "We had approached different television stations with the idea and Hi TV was interested so we took it from there." says D’banj of the show which is the first of it’s kind in Africa.

He is currently enjoying his bachelor status, he will not marry until he is at least 35, I mention 40 and he looks at me in shock "Eh! 40 is too old". He has no children out of wedlock. "No none!" Unlike a few Nigerian artistes whose names we will not mention, he nods, " Yes, we will not mention. Right now, I am concentrating on building my career, I won’t stop until I am the biggest African star".

And now he is gearing up for his next venture — Koko Water. It’s something he states in the opening bars of his song Igwe (Igbo for King). "I’m D’banj! Importer, Exporter, Koko water!" His celebrity status has opened doors for him like never before including being feted as Nigeria’s First United Nations Youth ambassador. He is, nevertheless, cautious when it comes to business saying: "There are a lot of people coming up to me with ideas and opportunities; you have to be very careful".

So what does Koko mean? " It’s the bone of contention in whatsoever situation! The real thing!" he says, " Right now, as we speak, the MTV MAMA’s is the Koko, so the Koko Master is the one in charge of all the happenings, when it comes to entertaining, that’s me"

D’banj is not shy about tooting his own horn, that is until later when he wins the Artiste of The Year MTV MAMA award and finds himself speechless.

It’s the second time he is winning the coveted award and for D’banj this kind of success has been a long time coming. His first foray into music was not well received by his parents who hoped he would follow in the footsteps of his father and join the military. "They didn’t support my decision but I allowed God to lead me and now they love it," says D’banj who grew up as an army brat, living in India and many different parts of Nigeria.

And now that he has made it D’banj has started the Koko Foundation For Youth and Development. "It’s a way of giving back to the public, we do what we can to empower people," he says. Later in the evening, watching D’banj serenade, flirt and dance for Kenyan Kokolettes with his song Fall In Love leaves no doubt that he is not only singer but an entertainer.