Sahara TV had an exclusive interview with D’banj this afternoon, which was anchored by Chika Odua. Below are extracts from the interview. Very interesting answers
Chika: Did you ever dream of being this big in music?
D’banj: I dreamt about this…(Jokes: I’ve a dream!) God is using us to take our message across from Africa to here.
Chika: You are the face of African Pop music don’t you feel a lot of pressure?
D’banj: Yes a lot of pressure but I have nothing to be scared of. I have much responsibility.
Chika: There are rumors that you are dating Genevieve Nnaji how true is that?
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D’banj: No! We are not dating.
Chika: What is your status?
D’banj: I’m very single. I like Rihanna, I’m interested in her.
Chika: Will you Americanize your music now that you are working mostly in America…..(D’banj cuts in)
D’banj: What do you mean by Americanize?
Chika: I mean you use a lot of pidgin and yoruba in your music will you still do that?
D’banj: Yes I’ll, did you hear scapegoat? fall in love or oliver twist? I do music depending on the message and who I want it to suite.
Chika: So will you maintain the identity?
D’banj: I think American music is universal so I’ve a lot of work to do.
Chika: Ok, now on your interview with the President of Nigeria, there are talks that you collected money from him to sing and interview him.
D’banj: I didn’t collect money from the President. It wasn’t an interview it was a request, watch the interview I asked the President and I can remember the statements “What are your plans for the Nigerian youth?” because I dedicated a track to him so I wanted the people to know why I said I was going to vote for him, I wanted them to know his plans.
Chika: We understand you run a foundation and you were appointed as the United Nations youth ambassador for peace, with your position what are your responsibilities and what have you done with you position?
D’banj: I have much responsibility. I represent Africa, I represent Nigeria…do your research.
Chika: What was your take on the Occupy Nigeria and the fuel subsidy removal?
D’banj: 1st of all, lets take a minute silence for those who lost their lives during this period
Chika: Ok D’banj we really appreciate that, so carry on.
D’banj: I did not know anything that was happening [in Nigeria during protests] because I was working on my album in the UK.
Chika: But there was a protest in London why didn’t you participate?
D’banj: I didn’t know anything that was happening in London about the fuel protest because I was working… I am not a politician! And everyone that knows me well knows I don’t like cold, so I couldn’t go outside.
Chika: So what do you have to say?
D’banj: I don’t have anything to say, I wasn’t in the country when it was happening.
Chika: But I wasn’t in the country also.
D’banj: I’ve told you I don’t want to say anything about that topic, I don’t say what I don’t know anything about, If you know me very well I speak about what I know. I will not speak on something that I don’t know about. You will not get me to speak about what I don’t know. I wish my publicist told me that this was a political interview… (Chika cuts in)
Chika: So who operates your twitter handle?
D’banj: I operate it but I’m not always online, I’m on twitter when I want to pass an information not when you want me to.
Chika: There has been increase in poverty in Nigeria what do you have to say about this?
D’banj: Yes I know, but poverty has always been in Nigeria. Let us focus on what we have, why are you hammering on negativity? I’ll speak from the angle that I know well which is the entertainment, that is what I know we can export, we should invest our talents to escape from poverty. I’ve a concert tomorrow, I need to practice and prepare well so I can represent Africa well.
Chika: Thank you very much D’banj. We appreciate the time you spent with us, we wish you all the best in your concert tomorrow.
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