D’Banj follows in the footsteps of many of Africa’s prominent and successful musicians including Somalian K’Naan who was given the Special Recognition Award in 2010, South Africa’s Brenda Fassie in 2009 and George Lee in 2008.
“It’s really an honour for us to be celebrating an artist such as D’Banj for this year’s Special Recognition Award. Besides the obvious success that D’Banj has achieved, one of the stand-out factors is that his career, his success and his path run parallel with the growth that we have seen in the African music industry since the inception of the Channel O Music Video Awards. To us he represents a breed of African urban artistes who are the African dream,” says Leslie ‘Lee’ Kasumba, Channel O Africa Manager.
Being honoured in this way by the Channel O Music Video Awards, which he also co-hosted with DJ Sbu in 2007, is even more notable for the fact that D’Banj released his debut album just six years ago. However, in that time he has made a huge impact nationally, continentally and now internationally, with his recent signing to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music record label.
“His star has been rising for many years now. D’Banj is an artiste who has the ability to communicate and connect in a meaningful way. As a musician he is a trendsetter and as a presenter he is entertaining with a wonderful sense of humour. His success both at home and internationally is a testament to his great talent and I am in no doubt that this is just the beginning,” says M-Net Channel Director Yolisa Phahle.
Since the release of his debut, No Long Thing in 2005, featuring the smash hit Tongolo, D’Banj has worked ceaselessly to create a career that is now the benchmark for 21st century African artistes. D’Banj’s most recent big-hitter is also his most high profile: a remix of ‘Mr Endowed’ featuring the inimitable Snoop Dogg that was released in February 2011.
His role as Nigeria’s first United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace and the founder of the Koko Foundation for Youth and Peace Development says a great deal about D’Banj’s commitment to Nigeria and Africa. This is also reflected in his music through which he brings the Afrobeat sounds of his mentor Fela Kuti to life and into the 21st century through songs performed in Yoruba, English and Pidgin English. In doing this, D’Banj works with his producer Don Jazzy who has also been signed to G.O.O.D. Music.
Now D’Banj 2011 is set to get even better as he’s honoured by Africa’s longest-running music awards with the Channel O Music Video Awards’ Special Recognition Award.
source: www.
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