The one-year-old son of Nigerian music star D'banj has drowned in a pool at his home in the commercial city of Lagos.
D'banj has not commented on Sunday's incident but posted a black image on his Instagram account with the caption: "Trying Times . But my God is Always and Forever Faithful."

He was in Los Angeles attending the BET awards ceremony when his son died.

The Afrobeats star gained world fame for his 2012 hit, Oliver Twist.

A family friend has confirmed the news to the BBC but has said there would be no further statement.

D'banj calls himself "Koko master" which could mean a variety of things from being the "boss", "lover" and the "main topic".

His music is a mix of Yoruba, English and Pidgin.

D'banj, whose real name is Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, became a father in May 2017, and posted regular pictures of his son, Daniel Oyebanjo III.

His last picture was on Fathers' Day on 17 June, of him changing his son's nappy.

Who is D'banj?


  • Thirty-eight-year old singer, entrepreneur and television personality

  • Voted best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007

  • Best-selling African Artist at the 2014 World Music Awards

  • His Oliver Twist hit won him international fame

D'banj took Afrobeats to the world

By Abdulmalik Fahd, BBC Pidgin

D'banj is a star through and through, his hits have garnered him a loyal base in Nigeria and have got clubbers in Africa and around the world dancing to his beats.

With huge talent and a larger-than-life image to match, the Afrobeats star is a skilled harmonica player, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Many thought his split from the record label Mo'hits and long-time friend and manager, Don Jazzy, in 2011, at what seemed to the height of his career was a wrong move. But it turned out to be a step towards breaking into the international market.

Oliver Twist, D'banj's solo track under Kanye West's G.O.O.D music label, brought international stardom and opened the door for other Nigerian artists to work with music starts in the US.

The unfortunate death of his son happened while he was attending the 2018 BET awards, Davido, who was named the Best International Act: Africa, sent his condolences and paid homage to D'banj for paving the way for him by winning the same award in 2011.

Source:BBC