One of Nigeria’s famous and well know acts popularly known as 2face is one of the most popular and influential artist from Nigeria and Africa.
Born Innocent Ujah Idibia in Jos Plateau State Nigeria,he has carved his name into the heart of most Nigerians who regard him as one of the living legends in Nigerian entertainment industry.
Apart from being one of the most decorated and successful Afro pop artists in Africa,He is also one of the most bankable artists in Africa.
2baba has paid his dues,however there are some facts about him that you never knew.
Listed below are 10 mind blowing facts about Nigerian living legend 2face.
1.Idoma Breed
Tuface Idibia is from the Idoma ethnic group in the southern part of Benue State, in central Nigeria.Born 18 September 1975,the 41 year old R&B, hip hop, reggae and Afrobeat star has been in the music industry since 1994.
2.Cat With Nine Lives
2face has experienced so many near death experiences and has survived it all,including gunshots and robbery attacks.
3.Education
Tuface attended Saint Gabriela’s Secondary School in Makurdi, Benue State.
Upon graduation from high school He enrolled at Institute of Management & Technology, Enugu popularly known as (IMT) where he did his preliminary National Diploma course in business administration and management.
While studying at While IMT Enugu, 2face continued to pursue his passion.
He he performed at school organised shows and parties,and also had gigs at other nearby universities such as the University of Nigeria UNN and Enugu State University of Science & Technology ESUT.
Idibia also started composing and singing jingles at the GB Fan Club at Enugu State Broadcasting Services (ESBS) way back when he was still studying in IMT,in the year 1996.
4.Dropout
2face couldn’t cope with going to school and pursuing his music career.
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He eventually dropped out of Institute of Management and Technology IMT to pursue his music career.
He moved to Lagos and started performing with rapper Blackface (Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo) who he met while studying at IMT.
With Blackface already in the loop, musician Faze whose real name is (Chibuzor Oji),joined Tuface and black face and the trio went ahead to form the band Plantashun Boiz.
5.Albums And Songs
Tuface 2baba Idibia has a lot of hit songs songs,one of his most famous tracks is ‘African Queen’
Some of his popular songs and albums are listed below:
2face Albums:
- 2004: Face 2 Face
- 2006: Grass 2 Grace
- 2008: The Unstoppable
- 2010: The Unstoppable International Edition
- 2012: Away & Beyond
- 2014: The Ascension
2face Songs
- African Queen
- No Shaking
- See Me So
- 4 Instance
- Enter the Place ft Sound Sultan
- Implication
- Only Me
- Rainbow
- True Love
- omo to’san
- Break The Silence Ft. Samini, Sound Sultan, Ferre Galo, Machel Montano & Others #BringBackOurGirls
- ‘How e Go Be’ ft Stanley Enow
6.How The Name 2face Was Gotten
Earlier in his career,he adopted the stage name 2Face (Tuface).
He however stated that the reason for choosing the name was because he wants to to demarcate his personal life from his business life.
Innocent Ujah Idibia years later when he became an accomplished singer-songwriter, record producer and entrepreneur decided to officially discontinued the use of the name 2face (Tuface) and selected 2baba or Tu-baba as his stage name.
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7.Numerous Awards
Tuface has won many prestigious awards both locally and internationally.
Some of his awards include one MTV Europe Music Award, 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, and numerous other nominations and awards.
Website; www.2faceonline.com
8. Entrepreneurship & Ambassador Roles
What people do not know is that 2Face has established an NGO called 2Face Idibia Reach-Out Foundation,whose motto and mandate is “service to humanity”.
2Face was also appointed as an ambassador by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC in 2009.
He is also an Ambassador for the Nigerian Red Cross,Guinness, Nigerian Breweries etc
He also went ahead to release a song he titled “Man Unkind” to raise awareness on the ills of fake and sub-standard food and drug products circulating in Nigeria.
9. He Married His Childhood Sweetheart
2face Idibia got married to his long time girlfriend Annie Macaulay in 2012.
They later jetted off to Dubai for the white wedding followed with a Nigerian traditional wedding in Eket, Akwa-Ibom State Nigeria in 2013.
He celebrated his 40th birthday in an All Star Tribute Concert, which he named as #FORTYfied.
The concert was hosted by Basketmouth,also in attendance were A list stars like Wizkid, Burna Boy, Timaya, D’banj, Sound Sultan, Patoranking, Vector tha Viper, Wande Coal ,Seyi Shay,Bovi etc
2face has seven children with three different women.
He ended up going back to marry his current wife, Nollywood actress Annie Macaulay,whom according to sources they met at a recording studio named Even Ezra Music Studio when they were both teenagers.
10.Organized Protest
Never in the political history of Nigeria has a musician from the entertainment industry ever planned or staged a protest against the incumbent government.
2face called on Nigerians from social media to come out and protest against the Government of President Buhari.
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He urged Nigerians to make use of any of the hashtags #IStandWith2Baba #IStandWithNigeria #OneVoiceNigeria on social media.
According to 2face the poor Nigerian masses are suffering and deserved better.
Some people however speculated that perhaps he was sponsored by a particular opposition party,that didn’t stop 2face from lamenting on the poor state of Security,Education,Health,Power,Unemployment,High cost of living,Social Justice,Transparency,Cost of government And Patriotism.
However before the protest date,it was reported on social media that 2face Idibia and his family was harassed and feared for his own safety and that of his family,because of this he didn’t take part in the arranged protest,however other celebrities came forward and spear headed the protest.
Watch the video below;
