2Baba

Early life and education

2Baba was born on 18 September 1975, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, from Idoma descent from Benue State in central Nigeria. He studied at Mount Saint Gabriel Secondary School in Makurdi before pursuing Business Administration at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu (IMT), located in Enugu State.

Following his growing interest in the music industry, 2Baba discontinued his formal education in pursuit of his music career. By 1996, he had already begun composing music and recording jingles especially at the GB Fan Club at Enugu State Broadcasting Services (ESBS). Operating under the stage name "2Face", he said that the name was "to demarcate his personal life from business life" though was later changed to "2Baba" in 2016.

Career

While attending The Institute of Management and Technology Enugu (IMT), Idibia began his music career performing alongside Blackface Naija, his secondary school classmate, and Faze, all of whom later formed the trio band, Plantashun Boiz. The band released two albums, Body and Soul (2000) and Sold Out (2003), under Dove Records, a label owned by Nelson Brown. The band members separated in 2004, and 2Baba returned to solo music.

2Baba released his debut solo album, Face 2 Face (2004), which was positively reviewed by music critics and was listed as "the greatest Nigerian debut album of the 21st Century by a solo artist". It was followed by his second album, Grass 2 Grace (2006). After that, he left Kennis Music and established his own record label, Hypertek Digital. In 2009, he released an experimental album, The Unstoppable, with an international edition in 2010. The international edition won two awards at the 2010 SoundCity Music Video Awards.

Personal life and controversies

In 2004, 2Baba's departure from the band "Plantashun Boiz" led to the group's split, sparking a feud with his former bandmates who blamed him for the disbandment. 2Baba and former bandmate Faze traded blame in various tracks on their respective solo albums.

BlackFace alleged that 2Baba's performed songs were written by both of them, although the issue was later resolved in court. The hit song "African Queen" became a subject of controversy between 2Baba, his record label Kennis Music, and former bandmate Blackface, who publicly accused him of stealing the song from him, alleging that he wrote the song while they were still a band. 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.

On 25 January 2017, 2Baba 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 Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari. In an attempt to halt the protest, the administration, through the Lagos State police commissioner Fatai Owoseni, released a statement that the protest was banned in the state, citing concerns that hoodlums would hijack it and cause havoc. However, the statement was rebuffed and ignored publicly, while publicity for the protest continued on social media.

In February 2017, 2Baba released a video stating that he was canceling the protest due to security reasons. Rumors circulated on social media alleging that the administration, through the DSS, had 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 Twitter account to deny the claim.

2Baba has been married to Nigerian actress Annie Macaulay-Idibia since 2012 in Lagos, Nigeria. A civil ceremony was held in Dubai on 23 March 2013, and they have two children.

On 26 January 2025, he announced his separation and impending divorce from his wife, Annie on Instagram. A few days later, the singer was seen with Natasha Osawaru, a lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly.

Legacy

2Baba has received several awards throughout his career, including the MTV Europe Music Award and World Music Award, five The Headies Award for Song of the Year, four Channel O Music Video Awards, and a BET Award. Additionally, he has been honored at the MTV Africa Music Awards, the Music of Black Origin Awards, the Kora Awards, and the 2019 'Afrima Legend Award'. He was inducted into "The Headies Hall of Fame" in 2015 and the 'Music Legends Hall of Fame' in Ghana in 2022.

In May 2016, 2Baba was conferred an honorary Master of Arts in Music at Igbinedion University, Nigeria, and in March 2019, he was named a Fellow of the School of Music at Obafemi Awolowo University. In January 2017, he announced a partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and made donations for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and returnees. He also launched the "Vote Not Fight" campaign under the Youngstars Foundation and the National Democratic Institute. 2Baba has served as an ambassador for various brands including Guinness in 2005, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in 2009, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Pazino Homes and Gardens, Hennessy artistry season alongside singer Wizkid, in 2014, Oraimo, and was appointed the African ambassador for the Italian liquor manufacturer, Campari in 2016.

The FORTYfied All-Star Tribute Concert, organized by 2Baba to celebrate his 40th birthday and influence in Nigerian music, took place on 20 September 2015, at the Eko Hotel and Suites Convention Centre. Hosted by Basketmouth and sponsored by STAR Lager Beer, the concert garnered widespread acclaim. He is also the founder of the "Buckwyld and Breathless" concert series and the 2Baba Foundation, formerly known as the "2Face Reach Out Foundation".

Discography

Studio albums

• Face 2 Face (2004)
• Grass 2 Grace (2006)
• The Unstoppable (2009)
• The Unstoppable International Edition (2010)
• Away and Beyond (2012)
• The Ascension
• Rewind, Select, Update (2015)
• Warriors (2020)

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by 2Baba

References

Notes

Citations

References

1. (4 October 2022). "Nigerian Music Stars Reign as Burna Boy, Teni, 2Face, Others Gets National Honour By President Buhari". The Comment Newspaper.
2. Mutuku, Ryan. (2022-08-29). "2Baba's bio: wife, children, net worth, house, and cars - Tuko.co.ke".
3. (27 July 2014). "2face changes name to 'Tu-baba'". Vanguard.
4. (16 July 2018). "Is 2baba the greatest Nigerian artist ever?".
5. (27 February 2017). "2Face donates N3.5 million to help persons displaced by Boko Haram".
6. Ohunyon, Ehis. (16 May 2018). "14 years after, 'Face 2 Face' is still a gem of an album".
7. (18 September 2017). "10 things to know about 2face as he turns 42 | Premium Times Nigeria".
8. "Tubaba Archives".
9. "The 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time: Full Staff List".
10. Abisoye, Adeyiga. (18 September 2015). "Music Legend, 2Face Idibia Turns 40".
11. (14 January 2016). "2face 'officially' changes name to 2baba". Music in Africa.
12. (19 July 2018). "Here's both sides of the story as Blackface says 2baba is suing him for N50M".
13. Adefolurin, Adeyinka M.. "Dove Records".
14. (21 June 2013). "2face Idibia working with Nelson Brown on upcoming album". Nigerian Entertainment Today.
15. Alake, Motolani. (17 March 2020). "Here are the top 10 Nigerian debut albums of the past 20 years".
16. (28 October 2011). "Tuface Idibia opens up on why he left Kennis music". Nigerianewsdaily.com.
17. "TuFace Checks Piracy With Classy Album Price". tribune.com.ng.
18. (22 November 2010). "Soundcity Music Video Awards 2010 – The Winner's Circle.". thenetng.com.
19. (18 February 2018). "Plantashun Boyz alum blames selfishness for split".
20. (28 November 2019). "Theft Claim: Blackface Apolgises To 2Baba, Settles Out Of Court".
21. (12 September 2019). "Blackface: I wrote 'African Queen'... I decide who sings it and who doesn't".
22. Alonge, Osagie. (1 August 2013). "2face, Blackface and the controversial 'African queen'".
23. (19 July 2018). "Blackface don dey chop money from African Queen for 10 years – 2face Management".
24. Augoye, Jayne. (25 January 2017). "Recession: 2Face plans to lead nationwide protest".
25. (25 January 2017). "2face announces nationwide protest against 'obnoxious policies' of FG".
26. Inyang, Ifreke. (25 January 2017). "2face Idibia announces nationwide protest against Buhari's policies".
27. (2 February 2017). "Tuface To Protest Despite Police Ban, Warnings".
28. (2 February 2017). "Police Ban Tuface from Protesting in Lagos".
29. (6 February 2017). "I was not arrested – Tuface".
30. Nwachukwu, John Owen. (6 February 2017). "Cancelled protest: I was not arrested by DSS – 2face".
31. (6 February 2017). "'I was not arrested by the DSS' – music star says".
32. (4 May 2012). "2face Idibia and Annie Macaulay wed secretly". [[The Net (Nigeria).
33. (17 February 2012). "Annie, anointed queen of a shooting star". [[The Punch]].
34. (23 March 2016). "10 cutest couple moments of singer and wife as they mark 3rd wedding anniversary".
35. (2025-01-27). "Tuface: Nigeria's 2Baba announces separation from Annie Idibia".
36. Nwaeluwe, Victoria. (2025-01-27). "2Baba confirms separation from wife Annie Idibia in recent video announcement".
37. Johnson, Hannah. (15 February 2025). "VIDEO: 2Baba spotted shopping with Natasha Osawaru amid family's concerns cver his whereabouts – Punch Newspapers".
38. "'Missing' 2face and new boo, Natasha spotted together at hair shop {{!}} Pulse Nigeria".
39. "10 things to know about 2face as he turns 42".
40. Samuel, Mofijesusewa. (2019-11-25). "2Baba And Awilo Longomba Honoured With The 'Legend Of The Year' Title At The 2019 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)".
41. Emmanuel, Olu. (2016-01-25). "Headies Awards: Efe Omorogbe speaks on 2face Idibia's Hall of Fame induction — National Daily Newspaper".
42. (2022-11-30). "Ghana: African greats inducted into Music Legends Hall of Fame".
43. (11 May 2016). "2face bags Masters Degree".
44. (21 March 2019). "2Face Idibia receives award of Fellow of the School of Music at Obafemi Awolowo University". pulse.ng.
45. "2Baba".
46. (14 September 2017). "Singer launches "Vote Not Fight" campaign in Anambra". Pulse Nigeria.
47. (18 September 2017). "2Face Idibia: Ten Most Iconic Moments".
48. (18 September 2009). "NAFDAC appoints 2face Ambassador". vanguardngr.com.
49. Famuyiwa, Damilare. (7 August 2019). "NSE appoints 2face as its 'Good Cause Ambassador'".
50. (15 June 2015). "2 Face, IK, Akpororo, others now Airtel brand ambassadors".
51. (23 May 2017). "2face dumps Airtel, becomes Glo ambassador".
52. (3 July 2019). "2Baba lands endorsement deal with real estate firm".
53. (13 October 2014). "2Face, Wizkid in first collabo as Hennessy Artistry goes to Ghana".
54. (4 October 2019). "oraimo Unveils 2Face as Brand Ambassador, Launches 310 Hours Battery Life Necklace".
55. (22 April 2016). "2Face, Annie Idibia bag new endorsement deal".
56. (17 September 2015). "STAR to Celebrate 2Face at 40 With All-Star Tribute Concert". [[Vanguard (Nigeria).
57. Joey Akan. (8 September 2015). "Singer announces concert to mark 40th birthday". Pulse Nigeria.
58. (24 September 2017). "Why I started Buckwyld & Breathless concert – 2face Idibia – Vanguard News". Vanguard News.
59. (29 November 2011). "'2Face' Idibia: Message behind the music". CNN.