Nigerian music icon Innocent Idibia, known professionally as 2Face, reflected on the impact of his hit song “African Queen,” describing it as a catalyst for his career and a track with which he feels a deep personal connection. In a recent interview on an entertainment and lifestyle show, he expressed gratitude for the song’s success, noting that “African Queen has been a very huge blessing, but it has also become a problem for me.”
Released in 2004, “African Queen” was a groundbreaking single that propelled 2Face to international acclaim, earning him awards from prestigious platforms such as BET, MTV Europe, and MOBO—making him the first African artist to achieve this feat. The song’s authorship, however, has been a source of controversy. 2Face’s former bandmate Blackface has repeatedly claimed that the track was stolen from him, while 2Face maintains that “African Queen” was initially a collaborative effort with his former bandmates. Despite his denial, the dispute over ownership has persisted for over two decades.
The debate resurfaced recently after Billboard named “African Queen” the “greatest Afrobeats song of all time” in August 2025, reigniting discussions about the song’s origins and 2Face’s role in its creation.
Regardless of the ongoing controversy, 2Face’s legacy as a pioneering figure in Afrobeats remains intact. “African Queen” continues to solidify his place in the history of African music, serving as a testament to his influence on the genre even as questions about its authorship endure.
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