2Baba
Background information
Birth nameInnocent Ujah Idibia
Also known as
  • Lord Elly
  • 2Baba
  • Tubaba
  • 2Face
  • Tuface
  • 2Face Idibia
  • Tuface Idibia
Born (1975-09-18) 18 September 1975
Jos, Plateau, Nigeria
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • entrepreneur
Years active1994–present
Labels
Formerly ofPlantashun Boyz
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2012)​

Innocent Ujah Idibia Listenⓘ MON[1] (born September 18, 1975), known by his stage name 2Baba, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.[2][3][4][5]

He is most influential for the rise in popularity of Nigerian pop music in the 2000s, and his solo debut album Face2Face (with the smash hit "African Queen") ushered in a new wave of awareness and reverence for Nigerian music amongst Africans on the continent and in diaspora.[6]

Prior to July 2014, he went by the stage name 2face Idibia.[7][8][9][10] 2Baba was the first winner of the MTV EMA Best African Act category in 2005 and is one of the most awarded Nigerian musicians in history.[11]

In 2019, 2Baba, in collaboration with other well-known artiste like Cohbams Asuquo and Timi Dakolo, released a song to raise awareness of the rights of children.[12][3]

He was part of a boys group called Plantashun Boiz, under God Father Production.

Early life

Innocent Ujah Idibia was born in Jos. He is from the Idoma ethnic group in the southern part of Benue State, in central Nigeria.[13] He attended Mount Saint Gabriel's Secondary School in Makurdi, Benue State. Tuface enrolled at the Institute of Management & Technology, Enugu (IMT), where he attained his preliminary National Diploma course in Business Administration and management. While attending IMT, Idibia (then known as Lord Elly) performed at school-organized shows and parties, as well as other regional schools such as the University of Nigeria and Enugu State University of Science & Technology. He eventually dropped out of school to pursue his music career. While attending IMT, 2face Idibia started composing and singing jingles at the GB Fan Club at Enugu State Broadcasting Services (ESBS) in 1996.[14]

Also in 1996, he adopted the stage name "2Face" (Tuface). He cited the reason as "trying to demarcate my personal life from my business life".[15]

In 2016, he officially changed his name from Tuface to 2Baba.[16]

In Plantashun Boiz

He moved to Lagos and started performing with fellow Benue singer "Blackface Naija". He met Blackface during his secondary school education.[17] With Blackface (Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo) and with musician "Faze" (Chibuzor Orji), he went on to form the trio band called Plantashun Boiz.[18]

Plantashun Boiz released two successful albums: Body and Soul (2000) and Sold Out (2003) under Nelson Brown's label (Dove Records)[19] before disbanding in 2004. Relations were marred for many years during which the band broke up and its members started their solo careers. Long after the break-up known as the "Faze vs Tuface" beef, the band came back together in 2007 to record a third and final album entitled Plan B (2007).[20]

On numerous occasions, BlackFace claimed 2Baba was performing songs co-written by both of them and not remitting revenues to him. After a long legal and media battle, the matter was finally laid to rest amicably.[21]

Solo career

After the disbandment of Plantashun Boyz in 2004, all band members sought separate musical careers. 2Baba released his debut solo album Face 2 Face (2004), which has been listed by many publications as the greatest Nigerian debut album of the 21st Century by a solo artist.[22] The album spurned hits like "Nfana Ibaga", "Ole", and "African Queen" (which served as the soundtrack to the 2006 Hollywood movie Phat Girlz).

Following the release of his debut album, he released his second album Grass 2 Grace in 2006, which contained hits like "One Love", "True Love, "4 Instance".

Abstract painting Star studded of Idibia showcased at a Visual Collaborative pop-up exhibition themed ENCORE in December 2013

2Baba released an experimental album in 2009 called The Unstoppable which includes the single "Enter the Place". Problems with the album distribution in 2007 caused a shift of the release date of the album from 2008 to early 2009. In 2010, 2Baba released an "International Edition" of the same album with the title The Unstoppable International Edition making him the first Nigerian artist to have an appropriately priced international album.[23][24] 2face released two more singles from the international version of his The Unstoppable album. The international edition of the album won two awards at the 2010 SoundCity Music Video Awards.[25] 2Baba also won the Channel O Music Video Awards,Best African Western award and the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Male and Artist of the year.[26]

Upon leaving the music label "Kennis Music" after the release of his second solo album, he set up his own record label known as Hypertek Digital.[27] He is part of the Sony All African One8 Project alongside seven other musicians across Africa recording a single with R. Kelly and Prince Lee titled "Hands Across the World".[28]

Endorsement deal

In August 2016,2Baba, became the first African ambassador of Italian alcoholic liqueur Campari,[29][30] and was also named as an ambassador of Guinness beer in 2005.[31] He is also the brand ambassador for National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.[32] In 2010, 2Baba signed an endorsement deal with Airtel Nigeria.[33] When his contract with Airtel expired, he signed a new endorsement deal with Globacom Telecommunication in May 2019.[34] 2Baba was made the brand ambassador of Pazino Homes and Gardens, a real estate firm, in July 2019.[35] Tuface alongside Wizkid was chosen as the face of Hennessy artistry season in 2014.[36] In 2019, 2Baba became the first and official brand ambassador for Oraimo.[37]

He signed an endorsement deal with real estate brand, pazino homes and garden and serve as their brand ambassador.[38]

FORTYfied All-Star Tribute Concert

The FORTYfied All-Star Tribute Concert, stylised as #FORTYfied, was an all-star tribute concert organised by 2Baba to celebrate his 40th birthday and influence in the music of Nigeria.[39] Hosted by Basketmouth, the STAR Lager Beer-sponsored concert was held on 20 September 2015 at the Eko Hotel and Suites Convention Centre.[40] The concert was attended by dignitaries and featured performances from notable musicians including Wizkid, Burna Boy, Timaya, D'banj, Sound Sultan, Patoranking, Vector tha Viper, Wande Coal , and Seyi Shay.[41]

He is also the owner of the "Buckwyld and Breathless concert".[42]

Personal life

2Baba is married to Nigerian award-winning actress, movie producer, model, and serial entrepreneur "Annie Idibia" (née Macauley). On 2 May 2012, 2Baba and Annie Macaulay married in privately in Lagos, Nigeria.[43][44] A civil ceremony was also held in Dubai, UAE on 23 March 2013 and had a high attendance of celebrities.[45][46]

The celebrity couple are parents to two girls: Olivia Idibia and Isabel Idibia.[47]

While in a relationship with his then-girlfriend-turned-wife Annie Macaulay–Idibia, 2Baba fathered two children with Sumbo Ajala and Three with Pero Adeniyi.[48] 2face has a total of seven children.[49]

2Baba has survived near-death events, including gunshots from an armed robbery incident near Oshodi, Lagos.[24][50]

Philanthropy

Guinness World Record for "Longest Dance Party" Kaffy and multiple award-winning singer 2baba with the executive producer of My Funky Birthday TV Nig and PadMan Initiative crooner at a reunion to work with this superstar on a charity project.

2Baba has established an NGO called the 2Baba Foundation[51] whose motto is "service to humanity". Formerly known as the 2Face Reach Out Foundation, and eventually the 2Face Foundation, the foundation underwent a name change in September 2016 and is now known as the 2Baba Foundation.

In 2009, 2Baba was appointed as ambassador by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).[52] He released the song "Man Unkind" to raise awareness of the menace of fake and sub-standard food and drug products in Nigeria.[53] In 2009, Idibia was presented with the prestigious International Youth Ambassador for Peace Summit and the Nigeria Youth Merit Award by the National Youth Council of Nigeria in recognition of his contributions to youth development in Nigeria.[54]

In January 2017, 2Baba announced a partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He made an initial donation of over US$11,000 to UNHCR for IDPs and returnees.[55] In June 2017, he released a dedicated IDP-awareness song titled Hold My Hand to mark World Refugee Day, and promised 60 percent of the proceeds from the song to the IDP cause. He has also collaborated with other NGOs like The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Enough is Enough (EiE)(Office of the Citizen campaign), Youngstars Foundation and National Democratic Institute (for Vote Not Fight campaign).[56]

2baba inaugurated a[57] multi-million Naira music studio and donated it to the Obafemi Awolowo University.

On 23 June 2020, Idibia was appointed as the new Regional Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR).[58] He was the first Nigerian to receive this kind of appointment from UNHCR.[59]

Social crusade and activism

2Baba has over the years lent his voice to the voice of the oppressed using his celebrity status to bring more awareness to issues of governance in his country and Africa at large.[60] In April 2021, he chided the "Nigeria Centre for Disease Control" (NCDC) for frustrating travelers by collecting a mandatory fee (about N50,000 – fifty thousand naira) for COVID-19 arrival test on the NCDC's portal and the portal not delivering the necessary QR codes needed for this test. Many travelers were stranded because of this.[61]

Controversies

In 2004, Tuface's exit from the band "Plantashun Boiz" led to the split of the group, instigating a feud with his former bandmates who blamed him for the disbandment.[62] Tuface and former bandmate Faze traded blame in various tracks in their respective solo albums.

The hit song "African Queen" became a subject of controversy between Tuface, his record label Kennis Music, and former bandmate Blackface, who publicly accused Tuface of stealing the song from him; alleging that he wrote the song while they were still a band.[63][64] Kennis Music eventually agreed to give Blackface writing credits for the song and also agreed to pay him royalties from the proceeds of the song.[65]

On 25 January 2017, Tuface announced through his Instagram handle that he would be leading a nationwide protest on 5 February 2017; the protest was against policies implemented by the "Muhammadu Buhari" administration.[66][67][68] In a way to stop the protest, the administration through the Lagos state police commissioner Fatai Owoseni, released a statement that the protest was banned in the state, stating that hoodlums would hijack it and use the protest to cause havoc, the statement was rebuffed and ignored publicly why publicity of the protest continued on social media.[69][70]

In February 2017, Tuface released a video that he was canceling the protest due to security reasons but rumors circulated on social media have it that the administration, through the DSS, picked him up earlier that day and pressured him to cancel the much-hyped protest, though he later made a series of tweets from his official Twitter account to deny the claim.[71][72][73]

Discography

Albums

Awards

2Baba has received one "MTV Europe Music Award",[76] one World Music Award, five Headies Awards (Hip-hop award), four Channel O Music Video Awards and one "BET award" for his musical work, four MTV Africa Music Awards, one MOBO award, one KORA award, 3 Afrima Awards,[77] and numerous additional nominations.

In May 2016, 2Baba received an honorary Master of Arts in Music degree from Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Nigeria.[78][79]

In March 2019, he was awarded an honorary fellow of the school of music by the Music Department, Obafemi Awolowo University. This made him the pioneer recipient of the award which was presented to him at the first public lecture and fellowship award, held on 20 March 2019.[80]

In August 2019, 2Baba was appointed as the good cause Ambassador for the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).[81]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Nigerian Music Stars Reign as Burna Boy, Teni, 2Face, Others Gets National Honour By President Buhari". TheComment Newspaper. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "2Face donates N3.5 million to help persons displaced by Boko Haram". 27 February 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Tuface Idibia Biography". nigerianfinder.com. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "NOTEWORTHY STATS". Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "2baba pledges to donate song proceeds to IDPs". 9 June 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  6. ↑ Ohunyon, Ehis (16 May 2018). "14 years after, 'Face 2 Face' is still a gem of an album". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  7. ↑ Njoku, Benjamin (27 July 2014). "2face changes name to 'Tu-baba'". Vanguard. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Know Your Naija: 10 Nigerian Stars To Watch". MTV Iggy.
  9. ↑ "Is 2baba the greatest Nigerian artist ever?". 16 July 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  10. ↑ "#20YearsAKing: 2Baba Celebrates Two Decades of Dominance". 21 February 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  11. ↑ "10 things to know about 2face as he turns 42 | Premium Times Nigeria". 18 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "Tubaba Archives". Vanguard News. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  13. ↑ "Rise and Rise of Tu-Face". newswatchngr.com. 9 January 2006. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "Innocent Ujah Idibia (2Face)". IdomaLand. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "2Face Idibia Live in London". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2012 – via YouTube.
  16. ↑ "2face 'officially' changes name to 2baba". Music In Africa. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  17. ↑ "Here's both sides of the story as Blackface says 2baba is suing him for N50M". Pulse. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  18. ↑ LHX, TRANSSION. "2Baba songs download: 2Baba MP3 new songs, lyrics, albums, playlists | Boomplay Music". Boomplay Music – WebPlayer. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  19. ↑ "2face Idibia working with Nelson Brown on upcoming album". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "Innocent Ujah Idibia (2Face)". Idomalang.org. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  21. ↑ "Theft Claim: Blackface Apolgises To 2Baba, Settles Out Of Court". Channels TV. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  22. ↑ Alake, Motolani (17 March 2020). "Here are the top 10 Nigerian debut albums of the past 20 years". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  23. ↑ "TuFace Checks Piracy With Classy Album Price". tribune.com.ng. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  24. 1 2 "2Face Idibia's BET International "Welcome to America" Interview". Bellanaija.com. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  25. ↑ "Soundcity Music Video Awards 2010 – The Winner's Circle". thenetng.com. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  26. ↑ "Fally Ipupa & Tuface Idibia lead MTV Africa Music Awards winners 2010". museke.com. 12 December 2010. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  27. ↑ "Tuface Idibia opens up on why he left Kennis music". Nigerianewsdaily.com. 28 October 2011. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  28. ↑ "Hands Across The World Video – ONE8 with R. Kelly". Rnbmusicblog.com. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  29. ↑ "2Face, Annie Idibia bag new endorsement deal". Vanguard News. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  30. ↑ Nonye Ben-Nwankwo. "Endorsement deals: New income source for celebrities". Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "2Face Idibia: Ten Most Iconic Moments". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  32. ↑ "2Face Idibia Nicks Deals With NB Plc – P.M. NEWS Nigeria". 23 November 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  33. ↑ "2 Face, IK, Akpororo, others now Airtel brand ambassadors". The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  34. ↑ "2face dumps Airtel, becomes Glo ambassador". Vanguard News. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  35. ↑ "2Baba lands endorsement deal with real estate firm". Vanguard News. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  36. ↑ "2Face, Wizkid in first collabo as Hennessy Artistry goes to Ghana". Vanguard News. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  37. ↑ "oraimo Unveils 2Face as Brand Ambassador, Launches 310 Hours Battery Life Necklace". This Day. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  38. ↑ "2Baba lands endorsement deal with real estate firm". Vanguard News. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  39. ↑ "STAR CELEBRATES 2FACE AT 40". The Nation. 18 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  40. ↑ "STAR to Celebrate 2Face at 40 With All-Star Tribute Concert". Vanguard. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  41. ↑ Joey Akan (8 September 2015). "Singer announces concert to mark 40th birthday". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  42. ↑ "Why I started Buckwyld & Breathless concert – 2face Idibia – Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  43. ↑ "2face Idibia and Annie Macaulay wed secretly". thenetng.com. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  44. ↑ "Annie, anointed queen of a shooting star". punchng.com. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  45. ↑ "The Venues: Tuface Idibia and Annie Macaulay's Dubai Wedding". 23 March 2013.
  46. ↑ "10 cutest couple moments of singer and wife as they mark 3rd wedding anniversary". 23 March 2016.
  47. ↑ "Viral Archives". NGNews247. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  48. ↑ "2Face Idibia Reveals Having Many Baby Mamas Almost Sent Him into Depression". 8 December 2018.
  49. ↑ "2face Idibia at 40: Meet the 7 Children of 2face". 25 September 2015.
  50. ↑ "Tuface Idibia recuperating and fine". nigeriavillagesquare.com. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  51. ↑ "'2Face' Idibia: Message behind the music". CNN. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  52. ↑ "NAFDAC appoints 2face Ambassador". vanguardngr.com. 18 September 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  53. ↑ "2Face Idibia and NAFDAC tackle fake and sub-standard food and drug products in Nigeria with "Man Unkind"". Bellanaija.com. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  54. ↑ "Human capital". Nigeriafirst.org. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  55. ↑ "2Baba".
  56. ↑ "Singer launches "Vote Not Fight" campaign in Anambra". 14 September 2017.
  57. ↑ "Studio donation: 2Baba would've trended if he impregnated someone, says Annie Idibia". Punch Newspapers. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  58. ↑ Ojeme, Victoria (23 June 2020). "UNHCR appoints Innocent Idibia as goodwill ambassador". Vanguard (Nigeria). Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  59. ↑ "2Baba newly appointed UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador". UNHCR. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  60. ↑ "2Baba calls out African leaders over the oppression of their citizens". 15 March 2021.
  61. ↑ "COVID-19: 2baba calls out NCDC for allegedly frustrating travellers". 21 April 2021.
  62. ↑ "Plantashun Boyz alum blames selfishness for split". Pulse Nigeria. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  63. ↑ "Blackface: I wrote 'African Queen'... I decide who sings it and who doesn't". TheCable Lifestyle. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  64. ↑ Alonge, Osagie (1 August 2013). "2face, Blackface and the controversial 'African queen'". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  65. ↑ "Blackface don dey chop money from African Queen for 10 years – 2face Management". BBC News Pidgin. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  66. ↑ Augoye, Jayne (25 January 2017). "Recession: 2Face plans to lead nationwide protest". Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  67. ↑ "2face announces nationwide protest against 'obnoxious policies' of FG". TheCable Lifestyle. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  68. ↑ Inyang, Ifreke (25 January 2017). "2face Idibia announces nationwide protest against Buhari's policies". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  69. ↑ "Tuface To Protest Despite Police Ban, Warnings". Sahara Reporters. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  70. ↑ "Police Ban Tuface from Protesting in Lagos". guardian.ng. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  71. ↑ "I was not arrested – Tuface". Punch Newspapers. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  72. ↑ Nwachukwu, John Owen (6 February 2017). "Cancelled protest: I was not arrested by DSS – 2face". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  73. ↑ "'I was not arrested by the DSS' – music star says". pulse.ng. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  74. ↑ "2face – Away and Beyond [Album Review]". Netng. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  75. ↑ "Warriors by 2Baba". Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  76. ↑ "10 things to know about 2face as he turns 42". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  77. ↑ "5TH AFRIMA WINNERS". Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  78. ↑ "2Baba is Getting Honoured with a Doctorate Degree from Igbinedion University". 5 May 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  79. ↑ "2face bags Masters Degree". 11 May 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  80. ↑ Okonofua, Odion (21 March 2019). "2Face Idibia receives award of Fellow of the School of Music at Obafemi Awolowo University". pulse.ng. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  81. ↑ Famuyiwa, Damilare (7 August 2019). "NSE appoints 2face as its 'Good Cause Ambassador'". Nairametrics. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
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