Nigerian music star, Oladapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, on Tuesday held a YouTube concert for his fans to celebrate his 40th birthday and a milestone in his career.
The concert, tagged#40by40, featured performances from guest artistes like his former partner and producer Don Jazzy, Burna Boy, Wande Coal and a host of others.
D’banj is reputed to have contributed immensely in exporting the afrobeats sound to a global audience with hit tracks like ‘Oliver Twist’, among others.
In marking his 40th, the singer also announced that he has signed an endorsement deal with Heritage Bank. The good news came at a time when the artiste, who shot into limelight in 2004 with Mobolowowon and Tongolo, is battling a rape allegation.
His birthday message reads: “Heritage Bank Partnership On My Birthday: The biggest deal ever and the best birthday gift. Major shoutout to Heritage Bank Plc for this one. Osshey!! #40by40” he wrote in a post on Instagram.
With the birthday concert and an elaborate photoshoot that was streamed live on his social media pages, D’banj did not betray any worries whatsoever about the rape allegation from a talent/model scout, Benjamin Ese, who had last week called D’banj out on social media in a viral post for allegedly raping his friend two years ago.
The allegation came after the artiste joined the campaign against sexual abuse and hadxpersonalky condemned rape on his Instagram page.
The accuser and alleged victim, identified as Miss Seyitan Babatayo, in a letter signed by her lawyers and obtained on her Instagram page, is demanding a public apology from D’banj for the alleged crime.
The letter threatened a legal action should D’banj fail to comply with the demand within seven days.
Responding, lawyers representing the musician denied that their client ever raped the accuser and would not have him apologise for an offence he did not commit.
D’Banj has been a consistent face on Nigeria’s contemporary music scene in the last 16 years, hitting headlines with his songs and stage performances and with his foray abroad through international music collaborations.