In a
new interview with Showtime Celebrity, one of Nigeria’s hottest musical
stars D'Banj, who recently turned 34, set the records straight about
his alleged relationship with top Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji
. D’banj
also shared what he feels was the mistake he made while the partnership
with Don Jazzy lasted as his former business partner.
Excerpts:
- You
are celebrating your 34th birthday anniversary as well as your 10 years
on stage, this year. How has the journey been so far?
It
has not been an easy one. Though, it’s been interesting, full of ups
and downs; sobbing and smiling. But importantly, it’s been rewarding.
God has been so good to me. What I have achieved in
my 34 years of life,
as well as my 10 years as a performer, it’s only the Almighty Lord that
could have done it for me. I am so honoured and privileged.
- How do you react to the aged-long rumor that you are dating top Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji?
There
have been so many rumours about so many things. I don’t like to talk
about my personal relationship again because people always misunderstand
me. But rumours must always be rumours.
- But it’s always good to put the record straight?
Honestly, I’m not dating Genevieve. Let me clear the air now.
- You had a huge crush on her?
I never did.
- At 34 years, is D’banj not thinking of settling down?
Of
course, I am thinking of settling down. Who said I am not married? My
private life must remain private, especially to the press.
- Meaning that D’banj is secretly married?
It could be so.
- Who is the woman in your life?
I wouldn’t disclose her identity so that they don’t plan to kidnap her.
- When you look back from where you started 10 years ago, what were the mistakes you made you wished you didn’t make?
One
major mistake I made was not doing something differently in the past,
considering all that happened between me and my ex-business partner, Don
Jazzy. This is because we never really had issues. I believe, people
that fueled the problem. May be, I should have fought more for what I
brought up.
I personally found and signed everybody that belonged
to the one time popular record label, ‘Mo Hits Records’ consisting of
major artistes such as Wande Coal, Dr. Sid, Prince, K-Switch and
co-partnered with Don Jazzy. I recall one time when he told me that he
wanted us to go our separate ways. I also remember asking him to give me
about six months to fashion out modalities for the separation.
May
be, I should have requested for one year. But like I sang in one of my
songs “Top of the World”, I have no regrets parting ways with him.
However, I should have tried harder, which I did. But in all honesty,
I’m grateful to Almighty God.
- But would you say, you are missing Don Jazzy in all ramifications?
Not
more than the ordinary. You know, when you say you are missing
somebody, it means you need the person in your life. No, I don’t miss
him. But I saw him at the MTV music awards, in South Africa. We ran into
each other every now and then. People are alleging that we have come
together again. Who told them that we are quarreling? It’s just that we
are running our own different businesses now. He has his own record
label called Mavin Records, while I have my own label, DBM Records.
Nobody is saying, we cannot do music together, or perform on the same
stage again. In fact, while I am celebrating my 10 years on stage, it
also means that Don Jazzy is celebrating 10 years of his musical career.
- Does the break up affect your relationship with him?
Of
course, it affected our relationship for a long time. It’s close to two
years since we broke up. But we have been seeing each other. Probably,
we will get into the studio soon to do songs together.
