How ‘African Queen’ brought me fame, controversy – Tuface
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However, the song has also faced long-running controversy. 2Face’s former bandmate, Blackface, has repeatedly accused him of stealing the song. 2Face has denied the claim, explaining that it was a joint effort with his former group members.
Legendary Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Face or 2Baba, has said that his hit song African Queen brought him both great success and unexpected challenges.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Entertainment & Lifestyle show, 2Face explained that while the song changed his life, it also became a heavy responsibility.
“African Queen has been a huge blessing, but it also turned into a problem for me. Still, I’m thankful for everything,” he said.
Released in 2004, African Queen made 2Face an international star. The song helped him become the first African artist to win major awards such as the BET, MTV Europe, and MOBO awards.
However, the song has also faced long-running controversy. 2Face’s former bandmate, Blackface, has repeatedly accused him of stealing the song.
2Face has denied the claim, explaining that it was a joint effort with his former group members.
Even after more than 20 years, the debate around the song continues. It resurfaced recently when Billboard named African Queen the “Greatest Afrobeats Song of All Time” in August 2025.
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