Guardian UK review of D'banj's Hammersmith Apollo, London concert | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Wednesday 29 August 2012

Guardian UK review of D'banj's Hammersmith Apollo, London concert

 
As he's the figurehead of Nigerian Afrobeats, it feels appropriate that D'banj's debut UK headline show takes place on the final day of the Notting Hill carnival. Alongside the usual dancehall and soca, a good proportion of the anthems that fuelled this year's sound systems and floats are the hits that have propelled the rise of Afrobeats in the UK: Atumpan's The Thing, Ice Prince's Oleku and, of course, D'Banj's own Oliver Twist, a song of such popular reach that it even made it on to EastEnders.


Keeping that carnival spirit going is D'Banj's MO tonight, as is that of a significant proportion of the audience, who have hotfooted it down the road from the carnival. As an entertainer, D'Banj treads the line between suave and rambunctious with ease: his dapper yellow-lapelled blazer is swiftly shed as he starts to rival his own dancers in snake-hipped, low-grinding ability, and the gold chain follows as he plunges off stage for a spot of crowd-surfing. By the show's climax, D'Banj is half-naked and essaying moves that seem to refer mostly to the title of his forthcoming album, Mr Endowed.

After a late entrance compounded by technical difficulties leaves the crowd slightly restless, D'Banj may feel putting that level of work in is necessary – but it transpires that the music does the trick just as well. "This is not a fluke," he announces midway through the show, perhaps mindful that not everyone present is aware of his seven-year career before Oliver Twist. Tonight, though, his older material goes down almost as well, from the call-and-response of Why Me to the lovelorn Scapegoat, and D'Banj bridges the gap between his more lilting, organic songs and his recent tougher, trancier dance-floor anthems with ease. His between-song patter has a tendency to ramble, but the show's culmination in Oliver Twist is stellar proof that an international hit can be engineered with ease if based around a resonant, inarguable statement such as "I like Beyoncé".

Written by for Alex Macpherson for Guardian UK

62 comments:

Anonymous said...

Woooow D'banj tnk u 4 makg us proud Oyato jor

Diet, no. Fitness! said...

To me, d'banj is a legend #datisall

Anonymous said...

wooww...Thank u God for putting haters to shame...go DBANJ...GOD GO MAKE YOU BIGGER THAN UR ENEMIES AND HATERS IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME.AMEN!!!

Anonymous said...

Hate it or love, Dbanj is the best. Eja nla, kook master, Mr. black mamba. Keep doing your thing.

Anonymous said...

Linda your working capacity has increased tremendously. i guess you have gotten your head off seX recently hence an improved performance on your blog. cheers my dear. more grease to ur elbow hahahahahaha #BIGDICKROCKS

Anonymous said...

Still riding d o.t positive tides I see. He better release a follow uP single just as good if not all dis will +vity will be a thing of d past.

Anonymous said...

Team dbanj all ԎϦϧ way

Anonymous said...

It's so obvious that this is more like a press release. All the English used here is exactly that, "English". At this level dbanj is stripping half-naked to get the crowd going. Epic fail.

Anonymous said...

Who told you he is a legend,from here onwards its gonna be a downward spiral.Don jazzy was to the Dbanj what goldie is to prezzo.I wish him well ...@papaudo(twitter handle)

elohor said...

Fucking useless nigerians....... I keep saying it, keep hating CHANGE and we will keep been treated like fools by our government, in our country and by foreigners..... People don't like change. They criticised this guy soo much just because he said he wants to be on his own. Too me he has tried sef. If it were to be some other people, at the peak of their career, they would have left. So tey, una talk say dbanj na illuminaty, even said kanye west doesn't like him. How can people be like this. Can't u be happy for a brother. Linda some of the people who comment here are either religious bigots, ethnocentric or loosely and uneducated critics. If u hate someone, should u hate the persons work? Am not soo into dbanj but I love what he is doing, till today I feel he made the right decision, very soon wande cole and tiwa will go, and then some morons will say they are singing nonsense. I know some idiots will abuse me and call me all sort of names. Just no you are talking to yourselves. Cus ur conscience will judge u if u just hate this boy for wanting to be on his own or you hate him because he is yoruba......... Talk what is in your mind and stop beating around the bush... Most of u lib readers are tribalist, both yoruba and igbo. Abeg linda publish this thing..... Am ready for them today

Anonymous said...

Yea that ma baby...love d'banj till death.ma husband alwz get jealous weneva I say this,anywz d'banj keep it up.u deffinately ma best.#lovestuck#

Anonymous said...

D'banj on point! Haters where una de? OYATO Jo!!!

daniel said...

u re damn good man thumbs up

Anonymous said...

Luff you dbanj du us proud abeg

Anonymous said...

dbang pls we want more.

Anonymous said...

Linnnnnnda were r d haters now, they won't come out to talk oooo. After they will start to beef . Fileeee oooshee . D'banj is on point joooor.

Anonymous said...

Elohor u ve said it all, but 1 tin I no is dat who God has blessed man can cours D'banj Lord has bless u rid on man.

Morlard said...

#Salute ...

soft said...

@ elolor u b boss ur damn right.

Anonymous said...

Elohor......lemme correct something u just said,he didn't choose to go o!!! Donjazzy in his infinite wisdom, bcos of greed chose to disband mohit,he called for the split...dbanj begged him even called his mother n some other pple to beg him but he still said no....scape goat remix will soon be out on cruel summer and by God's grace it will be bigger than oliver twist and then he will win d Grammy and get on stage and not call jazzy's name then I will danceazonto.

Linda go to dbanj fbook Page and bring d official pictures so those idiots dat said dey were following twitter and pple said dat dey want their money back can see how alive d show was.

Anonymous said...

Dbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanj......u have done America, now London....If u no come do kokomaster concert this December for naija waaa blow ni...

"dapper yellow blazer" that line it self is dapper. Linda u c how dapper is used yeah, not wen some pple have. Dressed like clowns u write dapper,word abuse

IVORY CHI said...

ABEGI...WHATS SO SPECIAL

OBVIOUSLY ..A REVIEW IS A REVIEW..DUH..

IT WAS PROBABLY HIDDEN IN THE PAPER...DONT GET ME WRONG..I LIKE D'BANJ...BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE MATERIAL HE HAS PRODUCED OF LATE IS BELOW IS STANDARD....POINT.BLANK.PERIOD




ALL OF YOU SAYING HE IS A LEGEND...ITS OBVIOUS YOUR EITHER FRESH FROM OBGETE MARKET OR YOUR STANDARDS MUST BE RIDICULOUSLY LOW OR YOU SIMPLY ARE TRYING TO USE A WORD BEYOND YOUR CALIBRE.

MICHAEL JACKSON....IS A LEGEND

MARIAH CAREY....IS A LEGEND

BEYONCE KNOWLES....IS A LEGEND

OBAMA..IS A LEGEND


FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL SAY I CANT PRAISE OUR OWN.....

E.A.ADEGBOYE...IS A LEGEND

NGOZI OKONJO-EWEALA...IS A LEGEND



D BANJ IS NOT A LEGEND...AT LEAST NOT YET.





WE NIGERIANS TEND TO ACCREDIT PRAISE TO TINIEST OF THINGS, WHEN THERE IS STILL SO MUCH TO ACHIEVE.

THANKS.

Anonymous said...

Kokomaster bad pass tony montana

Anonymous said...

Glowing review, although with a few jibes at D'banj like "His between-song patter has a tendency to ramble..." I hope he notes that and doesn't think it's all good!

Anonymous said...

Have u all seen the nominees for d headies yet.....the only mention of jazzy there was cos he was on olivertwist. Even davido producer beat that solar plexus bshit they produced....Wande private trips was nominated but guess wot, it was produced by jaysleek.

I hear mavin is now selling diesel hence he won entrepreneurs of the year

Anonymous said...

D'banj..oyato gan...

Anonymous said...

Linda ooooo!I have said, didn't u hear dat olivertwist is being used in international ad ni........why don't u bring that post here, then go to dbanjs Facebook Page and bring d official pictures as someone has said.....

Dbanj works hard and smart....let's watch how everything plays out with him

Anonymous said...

Erm, yes D'Banj is a legend. Ngozi Ikweala is a legend where? E.A Adegboye is a legend where?

Promos In Nigeria said...

D'BANJ We love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Anonymous said...

Who is "E.A Adegboye".....u must be refering to someone no one knows...or rather u talking about Papa Adeboye?......koshi lor jor.

typing in caps signifies shouting, And shouting d wrong thing won't help u...oloshi

Anonymous said...

Hahahaha....Linda u bad o....na him u put dbanj naked pic and right next u put vico..hahaaha

U c how fit dis dude is,i keep saying it's not just about his physic but his ability to entertain...someone shld plssssss tell dr. sid this one that he wants to kii himself to look fit by force

Anonymous said...

Who said Tiwa n Wande will soon leave, I see that coming too except jazzy can manage them well....

Sometimes I wish dbanj n jazzy will just pull a Ksolo on us and tell us it's all a joke and they r back, but at this rate dbanj will own 70% of any comeback.#justsaying

BigMike said...

The Koko master may not be a legend but C'mon people D'banj is blessed and folks if that big man for up bless u, I mean if him bless u nobody can stop u. Swagger toh badt

Anonymous said...

Eja Nla to nje dibanga..

Anonymous said...

Fyi! Dbanj has been going topless since '05... Let d brother rest n don't hate... Labamba

Anonymous said...

@ Ivory Chi, you are juat another hater. I don't think think calling D'banj a Legens is far reaching. This is how it starts and after it's all said and done he will prolly be a Africam / Nigerian LEGEND

Anonymous said...

He is a legend.. If he dies 2day, he'll be a legend tomorrow.. He has taken us to yankee..

Anonymous said...

Rubbish!!! Am so angry my sister,brother and I bought VIP tickects. It was a flop!!! Pls u all adivise him to go back to Don Jazzy or else he will sink soon.

The sage said...

WAIT! Okonjo iweala is NOT a legend!! She's part of this clueless administration. Nods at N5k notes funded with billions to produce while saying we are broke all in one breadth.

Besides, if she's called to the world bank today, she'll take the job without blinking.

Am still not convinced of her allegiance to Nigeria, as much as am convinced of her allegiance to the world bank.

Anonymous said...

Gud One

Legal said...

Dbanj is a good business man and entertainer...

Anonymous said...

He is doing well, making Nigerians proud.

He looks like Fela ;shirtless.

Anonymous said...

Okonjo Iweala a legend? She may be your towns woman but she's nowhere near a legend. You just showed your ignorance.

Anonymous said...

Layaaa u way never step airport in ur live clamming buying VIP ticket 4 London show haaaaaaa abeg waka pass jo!!

babycute said...

am sorry i just dont like DBanj, i dont gbadun all d raw rubbish lyrics he has in his songs... just saying.... we are different individuals, please dont criticize

Anonymous said...

all these talk about Dbanj needs Don jazzy, abeg since they split how many times have you heard Don jazzy's name in the news doing big things?.. so who need who here? #just sayn

Anonymous said...

Correct me if I am wrong but most of this review is on his grinding abilities. Is this not what we have always seen from the days of tongolo? Success is about reinventing yourself, if you are still doing the same thing you did 7 years ago then there is no progression. Who were the other acts there? Mediocre, unknowns, I haven't seen any pics of kswitch either, I hear ikechukwu was booed, and some people praise mediocrity? Oliver twist was a hit no doubt, but the fact remains that until dbanj releases an equally hit track with a different producer, he will forever be critiqued. He should dissociate himself completely from don jazzy produced tracks, it's not that difficult, he has done this over the years, why is it so hard to do same with a different producer? and no one should make mention of oyato cos it was clearly not mentioned in this strongly worded review. Almost all the major artists have been touring in the US, to think dbanj who is supposed to have taken naija music to America is still hanging around Nigerian weddings and uk concerts is laughable. Dbanj should realise and quickly too that time is not on his side. Wizkid, davido, nyanya, dammy krane, flavour, lkt, there are too many to mention, they are the current raves. Nigerian artistes don't really make money from album sales, the real cash is in endorsements and concerts. It is ONLY in Nigeria people will pay 1m and more for a concert, lip synced for that matter. A sensible business man should know where his strengths lie and exploit it, not searching for greener pastures that are synthetic.

Anonymous said...

Dr Sid is that u!

Anonymous said...

Dr sid is that u? I can see u ar trying so had!! shame on all of D'banj hater

Unknown said...

Ivory Chi Mumu dey worry ur ignorance....... Do u evn knw anything about Music???? U said Dbanj is not a legend yet he came and turn †ђε music table around.... He gave new dimension to music videos and make evry other things to bkome a thing dat we can be proud of about music. U spoilt †ђε whole thing and mentioned Okonjo Iweala #4 where?# dat woman is a shame abeg.....

Anonymous said...

An album produced less than 4 months ago is not expected to be in this year's Headies award.

Then, i don't think wande coal is in a hurry to separate himself from Don Jazzy. He knows the separation of the jazzy and dbanj had something to do his future and that of Sid who Dbanj had wanted to use the euphoria of a Kanye West contract to lure away to America to open Mo Hit USA.

He needs Wande and Dr. SID but as back up singers not'label mates. He was never comfortable with both after their albums came out.

As for this Dbanj concert review, it is no doubt a paid job or did Dbanj also sing about his coming album, Mr. endowed, in the concert.

Lastly, where is the GOOD MUSIC Kanye West and his crew?

One year from the date of their separation and we will know who is what to the other.

@LogosfromDAC

Anonymous said...

Ok so I'm chilling with hubby after work, it's prime time TV in SE Texas (Wednesday evening)... OWN (Oprah's TV station) goes into commercial and what do I hear...DBanj's Oliver Twist as the music accompanying Malibu Black 70 proof commercial... wow thumbs up Mr. D'Banj! I guess same goes to Don Jazzy...

Anonymous said...

Oh no I hate this Can't u minimize ur word ni besides Linda pls we need limit word character like Twitter biko

Anonymous said...

So d'banj is yoruba? & linda ikeji is igbo? I always thought they were blacks like me

Anonymous said...

Ur father yansh for saying he is facing naija and uk concerts.Afta all u ignoramus also blamed him 4 leaving is home fans.

Unknown said...

Elohor and Anon Aug 29, 4:40pm u guys have said it all...... And to you haters lemme tell u dis..» Wht Dbanj went thru 4 Don Jazzy and †ђε whole Mo'hit Crew, none of u anti-Dbanj can go thru half of it.... i keep repeating it cos its worth it. Dear haters.... I wonder if you all knw dat Dbanj was evn the CEO of Mohits, he controlled †ђε whole thing(capital and assets) but purposely put Donjazzy at the fore-front only to please him and to avoid this break up which now eventually happened... This break up shld hv happened long ago but Dbanj kept the peace under control by tolerating Jazzy's ugly attitude. bkos of dis Dbanj divided mohits and let Jazzy own and control half of it just to avoid dis break up, so tey e bought Bentley and bought one too 4 Jazzy. Wande crashed his car( †ђε one givn τ☺ him at †ђε future award), e bot him a range rover SHE sport and also got new cars 4 evry other artists under Mohits to keep peace but leaving his younger brother out of this goodies (maybe he felt e was less important).... Donjazzy Broke up and took his half dat belonged to Dbanj, which Dbanj gave to him wen he(jazzy) wanted to break up, as Dbanj felt that if they co-own the company, Jazzy mite hav dat spirit of belonging which includes the artists under the label which Dbanj couldn't retrieve bkos the agreement was officially documented... So those artist had to go with Jazzy afta †ђε break up. Now Jazzy had to break up with Dbanj bkos e was afraid of Dbanj's step with Kenye West as e believed that Mo'hit won't be able to conquer America, so e was afraid of the lost( he didn't want to go back to square one). Dbanj begged him no to leave dat e believed they won't fail but Papa J being a producer who knws America's taste is quite different from wht is done in Naija didn't agree #see negative mind#. Irreconcilable, then it was a goodbye... If u ask Jazzy anything bowt dis issue, he won't say anything than "I wish Dbanj a goodluck in dis" Linda hv u heard him saying this?.... Not criticising, i think they hav different choices..... So stop hating any of them cos of this break up issue. I just want haters to knw dat Dbanj going intl dosnt mean he wud hav to change from wht he used to be...... #go Dbanj# Proud of you Brov!!!! Haters stop beefing dis glory.....

Anonymous said...

after reading the first line, it was obvious that the writer is clueless about the topic he is attempting to discuss.
Fela must be turning in his grave.

Anonymous said...

Hate him or love him,,its won't change the fact that D banj has gone places n is still going places. I bet u naysayers are perfect at what u do,,reason why u will hide behind ur pcs n hate on another. The truth will prevail. D banj is with G.O.O.D music n good things don't just come easy. Good work takes time,,we the real fans are patient.Till u hear his next album,,,don't judge him. Though London is now full with lots of Nigerian artists,,our very own will be supporting Rita Ora 2nite by 8.30pm. Go KOKOMASTER,,,haters can't stop u coz they didn't make u!(they know me ,they know what i've accomplished,why u come dey talk with no conscience?,D banj oyato)me in my singing voice hahahhaha!

Anonymous said...

Dbanj rocks. And pls what's with the looooonnnnng comment? Pple get tired of reading sometimes I beg

Anonymous said...

I actually read all d comments here. Go D'banj, u'll succeed. We love u & when u do succeed, haters will famz u then :)

Anonymous said...

God bless all the fans of Dbanj n haters too because it is the haters that makes one strive harder. Most of all God would bless Dapo Oyebanjo for us, he will grow from strength to strength. Every track he releases would be a hit. For all those wishing him well it shall be well wit ya all. IJN.. Oooossseee... Labata. Lebete...

Anonymous said...

All this Dbanj people make we hear word jooorrr!!!

Na who produce oliver twist? Y be say na only remix we dey hear since?
Oyato don come and go, na who dey still play am?

Dbanj just dey ride on the success of his previous songs. Nothing is new here. Same old poo.

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