D’banj’s 2012 blockbuster ‘Oliver Twist’ marked the initial Nigerian track to penetrate the top 10 on the UK official chart
Nigerian vocalist, Divine Ikubor, widely recognized as Rema, has commended Afrobeats pioneer, D’banj, for his significant contributions to the genre’s international acclaim, particularly in the UK.
D’banj’s 2012 blockbuster ‘Oliver Twist’ marked the initial Nigerian track to penetrate the top 10 on the UK official chart, thereby setting the stage for subsequent Afrobeats tracks on the chart.
While inviting the veteran on stage at his sold-out concert at London’s O2 Arena on Sunday, Rema emphasized that without D’banj’s breakthrough achievement in the UK, his own success as an Afrobeats artist in the UK would not have been possible.
He remarked that D’banj facilitated opportunities for Afrobeats artists in the United Kingdom.
“First and foremost, I wish to express my gratitude for unlocking the doors. We [the emerging artists] do not accomplish this independently.
“You were among the pioneers who introduced Afrobeats to the UK. You and Don Jazzy upheld it. You both opened that door.
“I am grateful to you for life. I hold deep affection for you. If you had not existed, I would not be here,” he stated.
