2-FACE IDIBIA'S UNTOLD STORY

2FACE IDIBIA
‘I WAS HEARTBROKEN’
Innocent Ujjah Idibia aka 2Face has won many music awards, done much international collaboration and shared stage with Grammy award winning musicians. Although he’s blazing hot and an acclaimed R&B king, he’s single, was heartbroken and has a child. George Otieno files his love story and life.
The soft-spoken musician, who just like other Nigerians with an accent insists that he is cool, peaceful, respectful and caring. 2Face started off his musical career ten years ago (1997) with a hip-hop and R&B trio called Plantation Boyz.
The group was the most sought after and popular in Nigeria and was signed by Brown Amoiri, a music producer in Lagos. Plantation Boyz consisted of Augustine Amedu (Black Face), Chibuzor Orji (Face) and 2Face. The group however was never to last as they broke up in 2003 to pursue solo music careers. Their break up not only made headlines in Nigeria but also was a loss musically to the youth who looked up to them. The same year the group broke up, 2Face went solo and has never looked back.
His most popular song African Queen was the first ever video to be played on Pan African channel MTV Base. Although he broke with Plantation Boyz, 2Face has featured Black Face in his latest album ‘Face to Face’ in the song Odi Ya.
Since he went solo, 2Face has three albums from Kennis music. The singer cum songwriter, refuses to classify his musical genre but refers to it as universal flavor. Although his latest album is R&B, 2Face says his style consists of anything musical. “I just don’t like classifying my music style because I can’t be tempted to do any style. I’m flexible,” he says.
In November 2005, 2Face beat other African nominees to win the Best African Act at the MTV Europe music awards in 2005. In the same year, he won Best Male Video and Best African Video at the Channel O Awards for his hit song African Queen at the South African and Kora Music awards (Revelation of the Year), the Ghana Music Awards (Best West African Song), and at MOBO (Music of Black Origin) music award in Washington, DC (Nominated). At the Nigeria Music Awards, he won the Hip Hop world awards 2006 special recognition category. Although he didn’t perform during the BET music awards last year in Los Angeles, 2Face made his appearance on red carpet.
His love life has been quiet, however, the passionate love ballad-struck musician has had his fair share of heartbreak. His award winning song African Queen raised many eyebrows locally and internationally. It celebrated the African woman, showered her with praise and talked to her with love.
Everyone wanted to know who the African queen was that drove this hot Nigerian celebrity to do such a touchy song. 2Face says, “I did the song because of my love and respect for the African woman.” He refuses to disclose who this African queen was but says he is single and concentrating on his music career.
According to him, an African woman stands for strength, warmth and support. Although 2Face praises the African woman, he’s been heartbroken and has a baby girl from his previous relationship. He doesn’t want to talk much about it but says it couldn’t work for reasons he can’t explain. “I broke up with this girl I loved so much. She was my African Queen. I have beautiful daughter whom she bore and I am bringing up,” he says. Friends, relatives, parents named the girl last year in a function that was attended by Kennis Music owner Ogungbe Kenny. Yes, he was heart-broken but still believes that life has to move on. “Having loved and lost does not mean you’ll never love again. I believe some day the right woman will come and hopefully she will be my African queen,” he says.
Born 31 years ago in Benue State in Nigeria to Michael and Rose Idibia, 2Face is an African music icon with international repute who is not only out to showcase African talent but to prove that R&B can also be produced in the third world. 2Face sold more than one million copies of his debut album ‘Face to Face’ that included
the platinum hit African Queen. He’s signed to Kennis Music, which is Nigeria’s biggest music studio that has marketed and promoted 2Face worldwide.
Many expect to see two faces as his name goes, but 2Face has one face although he insists his name has different meanings. “People can’t just know me by looking at me from a distance. Looking at me is one face but when you get to know me is the inside. So it’s the inside and outside. The inside is the real and natural me that’s not the musician,” he says.
2Face has performed alongside many international musicians most recently being Jay Z, Ciara, Envogue, Mary J Blige, Snoop Dog, Busta Rhymes, Beyonce and many others. That aside, he has featured and done collaborations with dancehall superstars like Wyclef Jean (Proud to be African), Beenie Man,VIP and Ugandan raga heartthrob Peter Miles.
Nollywood noticed his musical prowess either was going places or invited him to star in Nigerian movies. 2Face has starred in more than three Nigerian movies so far. He played part in ‘The Twist,’ ‘Fling Without Wings,’ ‘The Virgin Prostitute, and ‘A Date With the Queen.’ The song African Queen was used as soundtrack to the movie ‘Phat Girlz’ which premiered in Nigeria with lead actress Monique. The musician even performed during the movie première.
Just like the Beyonce and other showbiz icons what’ve signed endorsements, 2Face has signed a hefty deal with Guinness brand worth $200,000 as the advertising face. He is one lucky African musician. As we finish our interview, 2 Face has this to say to African women, “Be proud of your beauty because all of you are exquisite.” And to his fans, “thanks for supporting African music since 2 Face would not be him without your support.”

The other side of 2FACE
He is very shy person.
He has a degree in Management.
His star sign is Libra.
His mom Rose is a special person in his life.
Dancehall music is his other love.
He is spiritually conscious and fears God.