As
Kokomaster, Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly referred to as Dbanj gave the last
performance at Senator Ben Murray Bruce’s 60th birthday celebration last
Friday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, joining him on the stage of
the Expo Hall was the celebrator who declared that one present would be
dear to his heart. “I will like you and Don Jazzy to do a
song together,” the showbiz impresario and founder of Silverbird Group
said to Dbanj, asking for Don Jazzy to come up the stage. His calls for
Don Jazzy, however, met shouts of ‘he’s gone.’ But with his song Igwe playing in the background, Dbanj countered, “he’s not gone. I know his table” However, it turned out that the Supreme Mavin Dynasty boss had left the venue. Within minutes, the social media was
agog and Don Jazzy tweeted, saying that his team performed that
night
and “Moreover, I had left the venue way before Dbanj’s performance tho.” However, Ben Bruce told Dbanj to promise he and Don Jazzy would do a song together. “That is the only present I want,” said Ben Bruce. Responding, Dbanj described Ben Bruce as
Nigeria’s equivalent of Quincy Jones and Steven Spielberg. He then went
on exonerate himself saying he even extended a hand of fellowship to
Don Jazzy while he was backstage. “As I was coming to perform on stage, I told Don ‘I will call you on stage,’” Dbanj said. “And when I got on stage, I didn’t tell Uncle Ben anything. And Uncle Ben called him out. But he don run.” Dbanj also said he ready to do a song with Don Jazzy once the Mavin boss is ready. “If you want a song from D’banj and Don
Jazzy, that request is no longer with me. That lies in his hands. If he
sends me the beat tomorrow, we will make the song next tomorrow.” Before Bruce’s latest intervention,
2Baba had also requested that Dbanj and Don Jazzy should also do a song
together when celebrated his 40th birthday last year. But with this latest development, it
seems all is not yet settled between the duo who until 2012 were
partners in Mo Hits Records. The 60th birthday party of Senator Bruce
which also featured the presentation of his book, A CommonSense
Revolution, was well-attended by politicians as well entertainers
including musicians and actors, both locally and internationally. For Bruce who since 1980 has changed
Nigeria’s face of entertainment, it was not surprising that Nigerian
artistes, both young and old, turned out to celebrate him. Opening the
floor was Bonsue Fuji king Adewale Ayuba. Other artistes that graced the
stage were Ras Kimono, YCEE, 2Baba, Vector, Timaya, Olu Maintain, Ruby,
Dr Sid, Sound Sultan, WizKid, Alariwo of Africa, MI, Jesse Jagz,
Reekado Banks, Timi Dakolo and Dbanj. Others that turned up but didn’t
perform include Teemac and Darey Art Alade and a lot of Nollywood big
wigs. His friend of 35 years, Jeffrey Daniels
of the Shalamar fame told of how Bruce was insistent on bringing top
notch entertainment to Nigeria when he could have easily done his
‘thing’ in the US. He later took to the stage to give an electrifying
performance of songs of the group with singer Yinka Davies.
At a point during the ceremony, an
excited Bruce joined Adekunle Gold to dance on stage as he performed God
Win which compere IK Osaduwa revealed was specially requested by the
celebrator. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo who was supposed to chair the event was represented by former governor of Cross River State.
“What makes Ben Bruce special is his patriotic zeal,” Duke said.
“As exposed as Ben Bruce is, his heart
is always for Nigeria. Ben said to me that the book will be distributed
free and so he has done today.”
Other politicians in attendance include
Deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu, former Ogun State governor
Gbenga Daniel, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, Senator Sam
Egwu, Senator Dino Melaye, Adamawa governorship aspirant Nuhu Ribadu.
Also in the audience was Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, founder of
Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, Pat Utomi and former Lagos State governorship
candidate Jimi Agbaje.
Ovia described the celebrator thus: “Ben Bruce is one of the most patriotic Nigerian I’ve ever known.”
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