Fifteen years after D'banj first released "Oliver Twist" in Nigeria, the song is back in the booth, this time as an official remix by DJ Katch. "Oliver Twist (DJ Katch Remix)" came out on October 16, 2026 through Cinq Music Group, and Spotify lists D'banj and DJ Katch side by side as the artists. The main version runs 2:14, and an extended version stretches it to 2:43.
The Hit That Opened the Door
The original "Oliver Twist" first came out in August 2011 on Mo' Hits Records, the label D'banj co-founded with producer Don Jazzy. A UK release through Mercury Records followed in May 2012, and the song debuted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, D'banj's first appearance on that chart. The title borrows the name of the Dickens character who famously asks for more, and in August 2025 Billboard placed the song at number seven on its list of the 50 best Afrobeats songs of all time.
That history makes a remix both a gift and a risk. A song with this kind of legacy comes with expectations, and any new version will be measured against the one people already know.
From Bootleg to Official Release
This remix did not start as a commission. DJ Katch first made it as a bootleg for his own sets, and the response on the floor helped turn it into an approved release with D'banj on board, as both Bong Mines Entertainment and Beatmag reported. In the release announcement, DJ Katch called it "a full circle moment" and summed up the plan: "My goal was to give this timeless classic a fresh 2026 twist while keeping the original magic alive and making it as club-ready as possible for all my DJ friends around the globe."
Both reports note that the remix keeps D'banj's original vocals and builds new club production around them. Beatport lists the remix at 125 BPM in A-flat major, a familiar tempo for house DJs.
Three Versions for Different Needs
The release comes in more than one shape. Spotify and Apple Music carry the 2:14 remix and the 2:43 extended remix, while Beatport also offers an intro version. Apple Music files the single under Afrobeats, and Beatport places it in its African section, so even in the club stores the record keeps one foot in its roots.
We like that choice. A remix like this could easily have been filed away as generic dance music, but the store categories still point back to where "Oliver Twist" came from.
Who Is DJ Katch?
DJ Katch is a producer and club DJ with more than 700 million streams on Spotify. He is one of the credited writers of "Takeaway" by The Chainsmokers and Illenium featuring Lennon Stella, and his club track "The Horns" reached number 17 on the Italian singles chart in 2015. His recent work has moved through Afro house and Latin sounds, and we covered his single "EL MAR" here in September.
Taking on a record that already has a place in Afrobeats history is a different kind of job from making an original. The remix has to work for DJs who never heard the 2011 version while still sounding like "Oliver Twist" to everyone who did.
Final Thoughts
"Oliver Twist (DJ Katch Remix)" gives a 2011 Afrobeats landmark a club update without taking away the voice that made it famous. For DJs who caught the bootleg in Katch's sets, the official files are finally available. Would you rather drop the short 2:14 remix or let the extended version run in your set? Tell us in the comments.
A Tip for Independent Artists
DJ Katch's remix shows the right order of things. A bootleg can test an idea in the club, but an official release needs the original artist and the rights holders on board. If you remix someone else's song, get that permission in writing before you upload anything. Once your own releases are cleared and ready, DistroKid (affiliate link) can send them to Spotify, Apple Music and other major stores, with 7% off your membership through that link.
