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Nigerian music icon Innocent Idibia, better known by his stage name 2Baba, has spoken candidly about the double-edged nature of his career-defining hit, African Queen. While the song remains one of the most beloved records in Afrobeats history, the singer admits that its massive success has also placed a heavy weight on his shoulders.
During a recent episode of the Entertainment & Lifestyle show, 2Baba reflected on the song’s lasting impact more than two decades after its release. He described African Queen as both a blessing and a challenge, revealing that while it opened incredible doors for him, it also created expectations that have been difficult to meet ever since.
“African Queen has been a very huge blessing, and e come turn to problem join for me. But I am grateful for everything,” he said, hinting at the mixed feelings that come with carrying such a legendary record.
Released in 2004 as part of his debut solo album Face 2 Face, African Queen became the song that defined an era. It marked 2Baba’s transition from a local star to an international sensation, earning him widespread acclaim across Africa and beyond. The track’s fusion of soulful lyrics, soft melodies, and African instrumentation resonated deeply with listeners, earning it a timeless status that few songs in the genre have achieved.
The success of African Queen also came with a long list of accolades for 2Baba. The song propelled him to win major international awards, including the BET, MTV Europe, and MOBO Awards, making him the first African artist to claim all three. It also introduced the global audience to the modern Afrobeats sound that would later dominate international charts.
However, with fame came controversy. Over the years, the song’s authorship has been a topic of debate. 2Baba’s former bandmate, Blackface, has repeatedly accused him of stealing the song from their defunct group, Plantashun Boiz. The allegation has lingered despite 2Baba’s consistent denial.
In earlier interviews, 2Baba explained that African Queen was indeed created during their time as a group but clarified that it was a joint effort and not a stolen work. He emphasized that the song’s final version, which became a global hit, was the product of his solo artistry and creative refinement.
Two decades later, African Queen continues to shape conversations about 2Baba’s legacy. The song remains a wedding anthem, a cultural classic, and a point of pride for Nigerian music. Its influence was reaffirmed in August 2025 when Billboard named it the “greatest Afrobeats song of all time,” sparking renewed discussions about its origin and impact.
For 2Baba, the legacy of African Queen is both beautiful and burdensome. It is the song that gave him a platform that few African artists had before him, but it also set a benchmark that every new release is compared to.
Still, after more than 20 years in the industry, 2Baba chooses gratitude over regret. To him, African Queen remains not just a song — but a story of resilience, love, and the power of African music to conquer the world.
Watch him speak below…
"That song (African Queen) has been a very huge blessing, and e come turn to problem join for me..."
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) November 9, 2025
- 2Baba pic.twitter.com/EccsvkJaCe
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#AfricanQueen
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