From chart-topping hits like Oliver Twist to groundbreaking entrepreneurial ventures, D’banj continues to reshape the landscape of Africa’s creative industry. His latest move, partnering with Afrexim Bank through the CREAM platform, marks a strategic push to connect talent with capital, creating sustainable growth for artists and creative entrepreneurs across the continent.
D’banj, born Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo through CREAM, Creative Reality, Entertainment, Arts, and Music, D’banj has built a platform that empowers millions of young Nigerians to monetize their creativity directly through mobile technology. His partnership with Afrexim Bank is a major milestone. The collaboration provides access to structured funding for artists, producers, and other creative professionals, bridging one of the biggest gaps in Nigeria’s creative ecosystem.
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“The challenge isn’t talent; it’s access to resources,” D’banj explains. “Many financial institutions hesitate to back creative projects because they haven’t seen structured proposals. But with Afrexim Bank and CREAM, we’re providing a platform to show reach, impact, and potential, turning creativity into tangible investment.”
CREAM functions as a do-it-yourself record label and creative hub, allowing emerging artists to distribute music, sell merchandise, and engage fans directly. It also integrates a wallet and token system that enables real-time monetization of content, improving artists’ creditworthiness and access to funding. Through the platform, MTN supports initiatives like Best of the Street, offering weekly grants and monthly mentorship, while Afrexim Bank backs larger-scale projects with loans and investments, including a recent $10 million facility for CREAM.
For D’banj, music is more than entertainment; it is ministry and empowerment. “My goal is to provide hope, visibility, and opportunities for the next generation of African creatives,” he says. “We’re creating an ecosystem where talent, funding, and fans coexist seamlessly, allowing Africa’s creative economy to thrive.”
Looking ahead, D’banj envisions CREAM evolving into Africa’s first fully integrated, direct-to-fan creative platform. Artists from remote towns to major cities will be able to sell music, merchandise, and creative content at global-standard pricing, bypassing intermediaries, while investors can confidently support structured, data-driven projects.
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Through this partnership with Afrexim Bank, D’banj is not just shaping the future of music. He is redefining how Africa’s creative talent accesses funding, builds communities, and converts passion into sustainable enterprise. For a continent bursting with creativity, this collaboration signals a new era where talent meets capital and dreams become scalable realities.
