Legendary Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, widely known as 2Face or 2Baba, has acknowledged that his iconic track “African Queen” played a pivotal role in launching his music career, describing it as a song that deeply connects with him on a personal level.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Entertainment & Lifestyle show, 2Face revealed that while the hit single brought him immense fame and success, it also came with its share of challenges.
“‘African Queen’ has been a massive blessing, but it also became a problem for me. Still, I’m thankful for everything,” he said.
Released in 2004, African Queen catapulted 2Face to international recognition, earning him prestigious awards such as BET, MTV Europe, and MOBO making him one of the first African artists to achieve that feat.
Despite its success, the song has long been surrounded by controversy. 2Face’s former Plantashun Boiz bandmate, Blackface, has repeatedly accused him of stealing the track.
In a past interview, 2Face clarified that African Queen was a collaborative effort with his former bandmates but firmly denied any claims of theft.
More than two decades after its release, the song continues to spark debate especially after Billboard named it the “Greatest Afrobeats Song of All Time” in August 2025.