#FORTYfied: 40 things to know about 2face as he turns 40

By Bisola Bello

Nigeria’s golden boy of pop music, the African King of contemporary music, Innocent “2face” Idibia is finally 40. He has done what many twice his age can only dream of and is still more active than many coming behind. To celebrate the man Jah has blessed, here are 40 things you need to know about the artiste with nine lives.

1. His real name is Innocent Ujah Idibia
2. He is not just a singer/songwriter; he is also a record producer and entrepreneur.
3. He was born in Jos, Nigeria on September 18, 1975.
4. He is from the Idoma ethnic group in the southern part of Benue State, in central Nigeria.
5. He attended Saint Gabriel’s Secondary School in Makurdi, Benue State
6. He dropped out of Institute of Management & Technology, Enugu (IMT) to pursue his musical career.
7. 2face Idibia started composing and singing jingles at the GB Fan Club at Enugu State Broadcasting Services (ESBS) in 1996.
8. He adopted the stage name “2Face” (Tuface) in 1996.
9. He was part of the musical group Plantashun Boiz with Blackface and Faze
10. Plantashun Boiz released two successful albums: Body and Soul (2000) and Sold Out (2003) under Nelson Brown’s Dove Records before disbanding in 2004.
11. He was signed to Kennis Music as a solo artiste in 2004.
12. 2face Idibia released his debut solo album Face 2 Face in 2004 which included the hit single African Queen.
13. In 2006, his song ‘African Queen’ was used in the soundtrack for the film Phat Girlz, which was released internationally.
14. He released his second album Grass 2 Grace in 2006, which contained hits like ‘One Love’, ‘True Love’ and ‘For Instance’.
15. He welcomed his first child with Annie Macaulay on April 27, 2006.
16. In 2007 he joined his former Plantashun Boiz band mates to record a third and final album Plan B.
17. He has tried his hands in the humour business and was host of one of Basketmouth’s music/comedy concerts.
18. He lived in Festac Town from the moment he relocated to Lagos in 1998 till his marriage.
19. 2Face has received 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 additional nominations.
20. In 2010, 2face released an “international edition” of his third album under the title The Unstoppable International Edition making him the first Nigerian artiste to have an appropriately priced international album.
21. The international edition of the album won two awards at the 2010 Soundcity Music Video Awards.
22. He is part of the Sony All African One8 Project alongside seven other musicians across Africa recording a single with R. Kelly and Prince Lee titled ‘Hands Across the World’.
23. He had a near death experience when he was shot by armed robbers.
24. He had 518k Instagram and 1.2million Twitter followers in the morning of the day he clocked 40
25. His father, Michael Agbo Idibia, died of cancer in August 2014 and was buried on November 7.
26. On 2 May 2012, 2Face Idibia and Annie Macaulay got married in Lagos, Nigeria in a private ceremony.
27. Annie and 2Face Idibia had their traditional wedding on 8 March 2013 in Eket, Akwa-Ibom State Nigeria. The couple also had a white wedding in Dubai, on Saturday 23 March 2013.
28. He also won the Channel O Music Video Awards, Best African Western award and the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Male and Artiste of the year.
29. He is the first non-Liberian to become an honorary member of the Liberian music society in recognition for his outstanding contribution to the growth of music in Africa.
30. His second child with Annie was born on January 3, 2014.
31. He has five other children that are not from his legal wife.
32. He is the founder of Hypertek Entertainment, the label that houses Dammy Krane.
33. 2Face has established an NGO called 2Face Idibia Reach-Out Foundation which motto is ‘Service to Humanity’.
34. He has released over 60 singles.
35. He has collaborated in more than 50 songs.
36. He has collaborated with almost every Nigerian artiste even a Fuji musician.
37. He has collaborated with international acts including Wyclef Jean, Mary J Blige, R Kelly and T Pain.
38. He is a brand ambassador to different companies including Airtel and Guinness.
39. He is also a brand ambassador for National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
40. He’s often referred to as Tubaba by fans and colleagues.