Legendary Nigerian music star, D’banj has revealed that he is gearing up for a collaborative tour alongside fellow Afrobeats heavyweights 2face Idibia and Timaya.
The music star made the announcement during a recent interview with Adesope Live in London, expressing his excitement about joining forces with his longtime colleagues.
D’banj reflected on the incredible evolution of Afrobeats over the years from its early days as a West African genre gaining momentum in the 2000s and 2010s, to its current status as a globally recognized sound.
He acknowledged the hard work and commitment of the genre’s pioneers, including artists and industry players, but emphasized that the movement’s global success wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of the African diaspora.
According to D’banj, the planned tour will not only celebrate their individual legacies but also showcase the enduring influence of Afrobeats across the world.
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…
“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…
“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].”