Entertainment
2 Face Moves On Despite Damaging Controversies
Nigerian music veteran,
Innocent ‘2 baba’ Idibia has been in the news over the years for his numerous involvements with his kids and baby mamas, but he has managed to advance his career whatever inspite the odds.
In 2015, the pop star celebrated his 40th birthday in style and had pretty much the entire Nigerian entertainment industry over at his gig, a true reflection of his successes in Africa’s music space.
The story of ‘2 Baba’, now often referred to as one of Africa’s most successful musician in recent years, began in the year 2000 when the group Plantashun Boiz dropped the album “Body and Soul” a pop project with heavy R and B and reggae influences among other genres.
The album was well received by Nigerian and non-Nigerian audiences with the hit songs ‘Don’t You Know,’ ‘Knock Me Off’, You and 1, ‘If Life and Eememma”, to name a few. The group was young, brilliant and completely in tune with the pop culture of the early 2000s, but one thing was unmistakable; 2 Face, now referred to as 2 Baba, was the ‘goose with the golden egg’.
In 2004, following the group splitting, Innocent ‘2 Baba’ Idibia crossed over from Dove Records and pitched his tent with Kennis Music under the leadership of the entertainment gurus, Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye which led to the album Face 2 Face.
The partnership opened a whole new vista for the singer and the Nigerian music industry, crossing our sounds into international stages and markets, bringing about multi-million naira endorsement deals, and resulted in the decade-defining ‘African Queen’-a song so good it made its way into Hollywood. 2 Baba went on to deliver’ magic’ in his following albums, ‘Grass to Grace’ Unstoppable, ‘Away and Beyond and ‘The Ascension’.
But like most successful men (from Solomon to Samson, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and then Mohammed Ali) Idibia has his limitations when it comes to women. It is a major part of his acclaim till date, the fact that he’s had several romantic relationships as well as fathered kids with different women had brought about several damaging controversies that tended to derail his focused career but 2 Baba still holds sway in the Nigerian music clan and beyond.
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’