Friday, March 29, 2024

D’banj and his ‘failed’ projects

Dbanj has come again to disturb our peace. He calls this one CREAM, but it is so different from the body lotion we are all familiar with. This simply means Creative, Reality, Entertainment, Arts and Music.
For the last few days, different papers and blogs have been writing about D’banj’s CREAM. This is understandable as he held a massive press conference on Thursday, September 1, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, to kick-off what looks like another talent hunt reality show. I witnessed it too.
At the event, the guy looked like a humbled person. I used ‘looked’ because I have heard a lot about his arrogant disposition before I had a one-on-one with him. He was just taking pictures with all he stumbled on, almost on his kneels to appreciate his guests and hailing the press even when it was uncalled for.
The lottery platform, which is supported by the Bank of Industry, MTN and D’kings Men Media Ltd, is expected to provide creative minds the opportunity to fulfil their dreams of showcasing their talent to the world.
Lucky winners will win exciting opportunities, including recording a song, shooting a state-of-the-art music video, collaboration with any artiste of their choice, talent showcase, talent branding, promotion and marketing, among others.
Though he seems to mean well with this project, I am really worried. He has the history of starting a project and leaving it behind or in an unpleasant condition. He did it with Mo’Hits Record, his new record label is apparently stagnant, we do not know if he still produces his ‘Koko Garri,’ and we do not know if he still has a night club.
While the fall of Mo’Hits Records was not entirely his fall, his former partner, Don Jazzy, initiated another record label and has made a success of it. I am sure everyone knows Mavin, the label that has the likes of Reekado Banks, Dija, Korede Bello, Dr. SID and D’Prince. Do you know D’Banj’s DB Records? The label started with his brother K-Switch, Moss Kriss and Ralph Kriss (brothers) and Tonto Dikeh.
While it is possible that the label has added other artistes to its stable, the simple truth is that Dbanj’s DB Records is yet to find its foot. The label, I believe, only exists on paper. Despite his huge potential, KSwitch has never hit top level. The much we have seen was a glimpse and he vanished from the scene. Tonto Dike is still busy with her marriage and Instagram. I do not think the Kriss’ brothers still do music. Apart from D’banj himself, other artistes on the label are not visible.
Three years ago, he confirmed in a post on Twitter that he had opened a night club at Adetokunbo Ademola Street in Victoria Island, Lagos. He said it would be known as ‘One Eleven.’ But in recent times, little has been heard about the club. If it still exits, it is certainly not near the league of top clubs on the Island.
‘Koko Garri’ is in the market as if it is not. The distribution or marketing strategy is certainly faulty for a product that was introduced in 2014.The first time I saw the product was at the unveiling of CREAM where he shared it out to journalists and guests. Just like me, most of the guests were seeing it for the first time. Permit me to mention that the ‘Garri’ was clean and tasted well when I decided to have a feel of it.
So, D’Banj’s track record as a businessman is the reason I am afraid for CREAM despite the promise it has. He has proved to be a successful entertainer, but not a businessman.
In 2014, the musician was hit with a N53.4 million debt scandal by a technology company, MindHub Technologies, headed by a player in the oil and gas industry, Henry Ojogho. Ojogho accused D’banj of owing his company the sum of $240,000 and another N15, 000,000, which cumulated to a total of N53.4 million.
MindHub Technologies had alleged that D’banj, through his company, DKM Media Limited, obtained a loan of over N60m from MindHub Technologies in January 2013. The company also accused D’banj of issuing dud cheques twice – one on December 20, 2013 and another on January 20, 2014. Other reports during that period also said that D’banj was allegedly indebted to several others.
But by collaborating with MTN and the Bank of Industry in CREAM, one may not need to worry much about D’banj’s track record in making a success of his new lottery. It is not an understatement to say his two partners cannot go wrong on this. Most of the things MTN had set out to do have been successful. The Bank of Industry is also owned by the Nigerian government.

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