Legendary Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has once again addressed the long-running controversy over his classic hit, African Queen, clarifying that the song was not stolen from former bandmate Blackface but was a product of shared creative effort.
Speaking candidly on the 234 Mzansi Podcast, the music icon stated, “It’s a collab. I wrote most of the song actually, but we wrote it together.” His remarks come in response to persistent claims by Blackface — a fellow founding member of the defunct group Plantashun Boiz — who has repeatedly alleged that 2Baba hijacked the iconic love ballad without giving due credit.
While 2Baba maintained that legal documentation and copyright protections speak clearly on the matter, he expressed deep disappointment that the issue has dragged on for years. “I don’t know what his intentions are. I don’t know what I’ve ever done to him,” he said, visibly pained.
Despite the repeated public attacks, 2Baba said he has never disrespected Blackface. “They [the things he says] are absurd. They are just ridiculous and they are very, very painful sometimes,” he added, pausing briefly before admitting, “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.”
The African Queen saga remains one of the most talked-about rifts in Nigeria’s music scene — a feud that began nearly two decades ago but continues to resurface in headlines and interviews.
As fans continue to celebrate the legacy of African Queen, the song that helped propel Nigerian music to global ears, many are still hopeful that the wounds between the former collaborators will one day find healing.
