2BABA: AFRICAN QUEEN IS A BURDEN

Legendary Nigerian musician Innocent Idibia, widely known as 2Face or 2Baba, has revealed that his hit song “African Queen” has been both a blessing and a burden to him, despite being the track that propelled him to stardom.

African Queen remains one of 2Face’s most iconic records, deeply cherished by fans around the world. However, speaking on a recent episode of the Entertainment & Lifestyle show, the 50-year-old singer said the song brought unexpected problems along with its success.

“African Queen has been a very huge blessing, and e come turn to problem join for me. But I am grateful for everything,” he said.

Released in 2004, the classic love ballad shot 2Face to global fame, making him the first African artist to win prestigious awards such as the BET Award, MTV Europe Music Award, and MOBO Award.

Despite its success, the song has remained controversial for over two decades. The earliest dispute centered on claims by 2Face’s former bandmate, Blackface, who repeatedly accused him of stealing the song. While 2Face previously acknowledged that African Queen originated as a collaborative effort with his former Plantashun Boiz members, he firmly denied ever stealing it.

A fresh wave of controversy re-emerged in August 2025 when Billboard named African Queen the “Greatest Afrobeats Song of All Time,” reigniting public debates about its ownership and legacy.