Veteran singer Innocent Idibia, also known as 2Baba, has spoken out about how his legendary hit song ‘African Queen’ has been both a turning point and a cause of difficulty in his music career.
During an appearance on the Entertainment & Lifestyle show, which went viral on Sunday, the multi-award-winning performer revealed that the 2004 classic gained him global recognition but also brought unforeseen challenges.
He said, “That song has been a very huge blessing, and e don turn problem join for me, you know, but like I said earlier, I’m grateful for everything.”
Reflecting on his journey, 2Baba, better known as 2Face, stated that, while ‘African Queen’ remains his signature song, he has produced countless other songs that have strongly resonated with audiences.
“There are so many other songs I have that are brilliant, and many people resonate with them too,” he added.
‘African Queen,’ which was released in 2004 as part of 2Face’s debut solo album Face 2 Face, rocketed him to international prominence and cemented his status as one of Africa’s most famous music superstars.
The track’s success earned him several significant prizes, including BET, MTV Europe, and MOBO awards, making him the first African artist to complete the hat trick.
Despite its enormous success, ‘African Queen’ has been fraught with controversy. Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo (Blackface), 2Face’s old Plantashun Boiz bandmate, has often accused him of song theft, which he has continuously denied, claiming it was a joint work from their band days.
The long-running debate erupted in August 2025, when Billboard selected ‘African Queen’ as the “Greatest Afrobeats Song of All Time.”
