Nigerian music icon Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Face, has shared that his timeless hit song African Queen has been both a blessing and a burden in his life.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Entertainment and Lifestyle Show, the celebrated singer reflected on how the song transformed his career yet brought along unexpected challenges.
“African Queen has been a very huge blessing, and e come turn to problem join for me. But I am grateful for everything,” he said with a mix of gratitude and realism.
Released in 2004, African Queen was the track that catapulted 2Face to global fame, earning him numerous accolades and making him the first African artist to win the BET, MTV Europe, and MOBO awards. The song quickly became a cultural anthem, celebrated across Africa and beyond.
Yet, beneath its success lies years of controversy. 2Face’s former bandmate, Blackface, has repeatedly accused him of stealing the song, a claim that continues to resurface. 2Face, however, has maintained that the song was a joint effort during their time as members of the defunct group, Plantashun Boiz, insisting that he never stole it.
Despite the lingering dispute, African Queen remains one of the most iconic songs ever produced in Nigeria’s music history. Its legacy was reignited recently when Billboard named it the “Greatest Afrobeats Song of All Time” in August 2025, two decades after its release a testament to its enduring influence on African music.
