2Baba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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2Baba
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2face at the release of his album, The Ascension (2014)
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| Born |
Innocent Ujah Idibia
18 September 1975 Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
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| Other names |
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| Citizenship | Nigerian |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Annie Macaulay
(m. 2012; div. 2025) |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Lagos, Nigeria |
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| Labels | Hypertek Digital Plantashun Boyz (former) |
Innocent Ujah Idibia (born September 18, 1975), is a famous Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is widely known by his stage name 2Baba, and before that, he was called 2Face Idibia. He became very popular with his first solo album, Face 2 Face. Many people consider him one of the most important and greatest Afrobeats artists ever. He helped shape Nigerian pop music in the 2000s.
2Baba won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act in 2005. In 2019, he worked with Cobhams Asuquo and Timi Dakolo to create a song. This song helped to make people more aware of children's rights.
Contents
Early Life and Education
2Baba was born on September 18, 1975, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. His family comes from the Idoma group in Benue State, which is in central Nigeria. He went to Mount Saint Gabriel Secondary School in Makurdi. After that, he studied Business Administration at the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu (IMT) in Enugu State.
As he became more interested in music, 2Baba decided to stop his formal education to focus on his music career. By 1996, he was already writing songs and recording short musical advertisements called jingles. He often did this at the GB Fan Club at Enugu State Broadcasting Services (ESBS). He first used the stage name "2Face." He said this name helped him keep his personal life separate from his music business. Later, in 2016, he changed his stage name to "2Baba."
Music Career Highlights
While he was at the Institute of Management and Technology Enugu (IMT), Idibia started his music journey. He performed with Blackface Naija, who was his classmate from secondary school, and Faze. These three later formed a band called Plantashun Boiz. The band released two albums: Body and Soul in 2000 and Sold Out in 2003. These albums were released under a record label called Dove Records. The band members decided to go their separate ways in 2004, and 2Baba began his solo music career again.
In 2004, 2Baba released his first solo album, Face 2 Face. Music critics really liked it. It was even called "the greatest Nigerian debut album of the 21st Century by a solo artist." His second album, Grass 2 Grace, followed in 2006. After that, he left Kennis Music and started his own record label, Hypertek Digital. In 2009, he released an experimental album called The Unstoppable. An international version of this album came out in 2010. The international edition won two awards at the 2010 SoundCity Music Video Awards.
Awards and Recognition
2Baba has received many awards throughout his career. These include the MTV Europe Music Award and the World Music Award. He has also won five Headies Awards for Song of the Year and four Channel O Music Video Awards. He also received a BET Award.
He has been honored at the MTV Africa Music Awards, the Music of Black Origin Awards, and the Kora Awards. In 2019, he received the 'Afrima Legend Award'. He was added to "The Headies Hall of Fame" in 2015. In 2022, he was also inducted into the 'Music Legends Hall of Fame' in Ghana.
In May 2016, 2Baba was given an honorary Master of Arts degree in Music from Igbinedion University in Nigeria. In March 2019, he was named a Fellow of the School of Music at Obafemi Awolowo University.
Community Work and Partnerships
In January 2017, 2Baba announced that he was working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He made donations to help people who had been forced to leave their homes (called Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs) and those returning home. He also started the "Vote Not Fight" campaign. This campaign was part of the Youngstars Foundation and the National Democratic Institute.
2Baba has also been an ambassador for many different brands. These include Guinness (starting in 2005), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in 2009, and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). He has also worked with Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, Pazino Homes and Gardens, and Hennessy artistry season alongside singer Wizkid in 2014. He also partnered with Oraimo. In 2016, he was chosen as the African ambassador for the Italian drink company, Campari.
To celebrate his 40th birthday and his impact on Nigerian music, 2Baba organized the FORTYfied All-Star Tribute Concert. This event took place on September 20, 2015, at the Eko Hotel and Suites Convention Centre. The concert was hosted by Basketmouth and sponsored by STAR Lager Beer. It received a lot of praise. 2Baba is also the founder of the "Buckwyld and Breathless" concert series. He also started the 2Baba Foundation, which was previously known as the "2Face Reach Out Foundation."
Albums
- Face 2 Face (2004)
- Grass 2 Grace (2006)
- The Unstoppable (2009)
- The Unstoppable International Edition (2010)
- Away and Beyond (2012)
- The Ascension (2014)
- Rewind, Select, Update (2015)
- Warriors (2020)
See also
- List of Nigerian musicians
