Afrobeats legend D’banj is gearing up for a major comeback and he is not coming alone.
In a sit-down with Adesope Live in London, he shared plans for a joint tour with two fellow icons, 2Baba and Timaya.
The sonorous singer reflected on how Afrobeats has evolved from its early days as a buzzing West African sound in the 2000s and 2010s to now dominating global charts. Afrobeats have come a long way.
D’banj credited this rise not just to the artists and industry insiders but also to the unwavering energy of Africans abroad.
He said, “I was speaking with Timaya the other day and he was like, ‘Banger, it’s okay, you’ve entrepreneur enough. It’s time to come out.’ And I said the same thing. I’m speaking to 2Face as well. 2Face was telling me let’s go on a tour together.
“We have myself, 2Face and Timaya. We have great bodies of work. Because of how our industry is, there is a big market for everyone. So, yes, we will be going on a tour…
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“I’m also dropping a new song with 2Face soon titled ‘Feeling Good.’ For those who have waited, I want to thank you guys. I think that would be the tag of the tour – just to thank. Because looking back 20 years…”
He spoke honestly about the early struggles.
“Now everybody is Afrobeats, everybody is African. But I remember when in this London it was not that great for you to say you are a Nigerian. We all wanted to be Jamaicans. Back then, everybody was embracing Jamaica so for us (Africans)to be the new pop (it is a big deal).
“These days, there is no UK movie that I’ve seen and our music is not in. So a big kudos not just to the creatives but to the whole community (African diaspora).”
With a fresh song on the way and a reunion tour in the works, D’banj, 2Baba, and Timaya may just be setting the tone for the next wave of Afrobeats nostalgia.