Legendary Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Face, has reflected on the impact of his hit track African Queen, describing it as the song that transformed his career while admitting it has also been a source of pressure.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Entertainment & Lifestyle show, 2Face said the timeless hit gave his career the breakthrough it needed but also came with its own challenges.
He said, “African Queen has been a very huge blessing, and e come turn to problem join for me. But I am grateful for everything.”
Released in 2004, African Queen became an international hit that catapulted 2Face to global fame, earning him multiple prestigious awards including BET, MTV Europe, and MOBO Awards — making him the first African artist to achieve that feat.
Despite its success, the song has long been surrounded by controversy, particularly over its authorship. 2Face’s former bandmate, Blackface, has repeatedly accused him of stealing the song from their defunct group, Plantashun Boiz.
In an earlier interview, 2Face clarified that African Queen was a collaborative effort with his former bandmates but maintained that he did not steal the song.
The hit single, which has remained one of the most iconic Afrobeats songs in history, resurfaced in public debate after Billboard ranked it as the “greatest Afrobeats song of all time” in August 2025.
