‘The Entertainer: D’Sequel’ is D’banj’s Evolution in 20 Years of Afrobeats 

Iyke Bede

In 2008, Nigerian Afrobeats star D’banj released ‘The Entertainer’ as his sophomore solo studio effort and went on to score multiple hits including ‘Fall in Love,’ ‘Suddenly,’ and ‘Igwe.’ Sixteen years later, the charismatic performer returns with a sequel to the album, ‘The Entertainer: D’Sequel,’ which was released a few days ago.

Heralding the release was an exclusive album listening party held at the W Bar Lounge, Ikoyi, Lagos, where select guests gained insight into the making of the 13-track album that featured some musical heavyweights from the continent and beyond.

“At the time, ‘The Entertainer’ was the best representation of me. I always told people that I was not a musician; I’m an entertainer. Listening to that album, you’ll see it’s everything I stand for,” D’banj explained to the crowd, detailing the thought process behind creating a revamped replica of his classic work.

He continued: “Fast forward to now, especially as I am celebrating the 20th anniversary, I thought to just go back and pick what I am best known for and present it to the world. It’s like an updated iOS. ‘The Entertainer: D’Sequel’ is me presenting the updated iOS.”

To drive home nostalgia, he sampled his song ‘Tongolo’ on the album opener ‘Koko,’ backed by an updated production to appeal to contemporary listeners, while maintaining the core of the original.

“The word ‘Koko’ has been part of my journey for 20 years, starting with ‘Tongolo’ as my first single. Over these two decades, ‘koko’ has taken on different meanings for me. What it represented in 2004 is not the same as what it means today,” the Koko Master remarked, hinting at the new direction the song has taken. “As I prepared to celebrate 20 years of my career, I knew I had to get into that mindset. This was the first song I worked on, and I did it with Olamide.”

For an album characterised as an updated version of its predecessor, D’banj certainly walked the talk by enlisting an impressive array of collaborators. On the Nigerian front, he teamed up with Phyno on the endearing, amapiano-tinged ‘Yours Truly,’ a track he penned for his fans. He also collaborated with the Egypt 80 band on ‘Serious,’ which draws inspiration from Busta Rhymes’ ‘Dangerous,’ and with Timaya and Zlatan on ‘Taya,’ a groovy joint that was well received.

On the continental and international front, D’banj puts his best foot forward, collaborating with the revered Youssou N’Dour and ‘The Voice’ favourite Chechi Sarai on ‘Worthy.’ Wyclef Jean was introduced on ‘I Am Legend,’ a high-energy, hip-hop-leaning track that had Jean pay homage to the late Sound Sultan. ‘Kala’ features Awilo, while Akon appeared on the remix of ‘Koko.’

“We had already recorded ‘Kala,’ and then Awilo came to Nigeria. We didn’t even know about his arrival. But we bonded and landed in Ogidi Studios, and I asked him to let me know if he’d like to feature on any songs. Immediately, he told me it was ‘Kala’—he was feeling something. He did the song in one take. Wyclef has always been a legend, mentor, and supporter of the culture. He has always encouraged and collaborated with us throughout the years,” D’banj revealed.

While most of the tracks revealed his extroverted nature, the singer intimated the crowd about his preference for solitude, saying, “I’d rather be watching movies than going to the club.” This secret hobby gave birth to the track ‘Peaky Blinder,’ inspired by the British series of the same name.

As expected of a showman, this album listening party was not just an audio experience but a full sensory journey. D’banj brought each track to life with his energetic performances, emphasising the essence of every song. And, of course, the experience culminated in true star fashion—with a spectacular display of fireworks.