2Baba Speaks: The Truth Behind African Queen

Renowned Nigerian music legend Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has publicly addressed the long-standing controversy surrounding the authorship of his iconic hit song, African Queen.

The song, which played a crucial role in launching 2Baba’s global career and elevating Nigerian music on the world stage, has been the subject of a bitter dispute with his former bandmate, Blackface.

In an interview on the 234 Mzansi Podcast, on Monday, June 30, 2025, 2Baba clarified that African Queen was a collaborative effort between him and Blackface.

He stated, “It’s a collab.

“I wrote most of the song actually, but we wrote it together”.

Despite this, 2Baba expressed deep disappointment over Blackface’s repeated public claims of sole ownership and accusations that 2Baba stole the song.

He emphasized his respect for Blackface and described the accusations as “absurd,” “ridiculous,” and “very, very painful”.

The feud dates back to the breakup of their group, Plantashun Boiz, and has involved legal battles, public disputes, and intense media scrutiny.

Blackface has persistently claimed that he wrote African Queen alone and accused 2Baba and his management of profiting unfairly without proper credit or royalties.

In response, 2Baba filed a defamation suit against Blackface, which was later dropped following an out-of-court settlement initiated by 2Baba’s team.

Adding complexity to the dispute, Kenny Ogungbe, CEO of Kennis Music and a key figure in the Nigerian music industry, revealed in a 2024 interview that Blackface was the first among the Plantashun Boiz members to release music.

However, according to Ogungbe, was not officially credited for African Queen when it was registered with BMI in the USA under 2Baba’s name.

Ogungbe’s remarks have lent some validation to Blackface’s claims, intensifying public debate on fair recognition and royalties in the industry.

The African Queen authorship controversy remains one of the most talked-about feuds in Nigerian music history.

It highlights broader issues of intellectual property, collaboration, and respect among artists.

For music lovers and fans of 2Baba worldwide, especially those aged 20 to 65 who have followed his career, this saga underscores the challenges behind creating timeless music and the complexities of artistic partnerships.

Innocent Idibia’s recent remarks suggest a desire to move beyond the conflict, though the emotional toll and unresolved questions linger.

He reflected, “Till today, I just wonder why.

“That is the only thing I have in my head, like why?

“What is the reason?

“It’s just ridiculous”.

This ongoing dialogue invites the global music community to consider the importance of collaboration, transparency, and mutual respect in the creative process.

This is especially as African music continues to gain worldwide acclaim.

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