40 Things You May Not Know About Birthday Boy 2face Idibia (PHOTOS)

Innocent Ujah Idibia, popularly known as 2face, is one of the most successful and decorated music artists in Africa. The legendary Nigerian singer is 40 today, September 18, 2015. Naij.com brings you 40 fun facts you need to know about 2face Idibia.


1. 2face was born Innocent Ujah Idibia
2. He was born in Jos, Plateau State
3. 2face is an Idoma man from Benue State.
4. Aside from being a singer, 2face is a songwriter, record producer and an entrepreneur.
5. He has an ordinary Nigerian diploma (OND) in business administration from the Institute of Management & Technology (IMT), Enugu

6. While in IMT, 2face started composing and singing radio jingles at the GB Fan Club at Enugu State Broadcasting Services (ESBS) in 1996.
7. In 1996, he adopted the stage name 2Face (Tuface).
8. 2face chose this moniker to draw the line between his personal and business lives.
9. He met Blackface, his former Plantashun Boiz band mate, while at IMT, Enugu.

2face and Blackface

10. 2face abandoned school after his OND for music, an act that did not go down well with his parents.
11. Blackface’s uncle, Captain Moses Ahmedu, housed 2face at his Festac home when the singer moved to Lagos in 1997.
12. Before coming to Lagos with Blackface, 2face came to the centre of excellence for the first time in 1992 with a friend and spent one week before returning to Markurdi, Benue State.
13. Faze later joined Blackface and Tuface to form Plantashun Boiz.

14. Plantashun Boiz sang back up for Weird MC before their first album came out in 2000.
15. Plantashun Boiz released two successful albums: Body and Soul (2000) and Sold Out (2003) under Dove Records owned by Nelson Brown.
16. Plantashun Boiz first performance fee was N10,000 with 2face taking home a little above N3,000.
17. Plantashun Boiz broke up in 2004.
18. 2face Idibia released his debut solo album Face 2 Face in 2004 under Kennis Music

19. He was with Kennis Music for four years during which he released two albums: Face 2 face and Grass 2 Grace.
20. His hit single, African Queen, was a cause of conflict between him and his longtime friend, Blackface. Blackface reportedly wrote the multiple award winning song but got no credit for his efforts. The duo have since settled their differences although Blacface was infamously not invited to 2face’s 2013 wedding.
21. 2face left Kennis Music in 2008 and founded Hypertek Entertainment.

Kennis music directors, Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye

22. 2face is the first contemporary Nigerian artist to have his song featured in a Hollywood movie. African Queen was on the soundtrack of the film Phat Girlz.
23. He is the first Nigerian artist to have an appropriately priced international album with the release of The Unstoppable International Edition.
24. 2face is the first non-Liberian to become an honorary member of the Liberian music society in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the growth of music in Africa.
25. In March 2013, 2face married his on and off girlfriend, actress Annie Macaulay, after ten tumultuous years of dating, two other baby mamas and, then, six children from the three women.

2face and Annie wedding

26. 2face has seven children from three women. His children are Isabella, Innocent, Rose, Zion, Nino, Justin, and Olivia.

Annie Idibia and her daughters

Pero Adeniyi’s children and her sister

Sumbo, Nino and Zion

27. 2face baby mamas are Sumbo Ajaba Adeoye(2 children), Pero Adeniyi (3) and Annie Idibia (2)

2face baby mamas and wife

28. His marriage to Annie has helped him stabilize his celebrity status in the eye of the media.
29. 2face initially never planned to get married.
30. 2face Idibia’s net worth is $3 Million according to Famous People Net Worth
31. He has won several local and international awards including The Headies, the Nigeria Music Awards, AMEN Awards, Sound City Awards, MTV European Music Award, MTV African Music Awards, Kora Award, Channel 0 Music Video Awards, BET Award, MOBO Awards and All African Music Award among many others.

32. 2face has had collaborations with a number of international music stars such as Wyclef Jean, R.Kelly, Beenie man, Reggie Rockstone, T-Pain, Mary J. Blige, and recently a rare collaboration with Nigerian highlife music legend, Victor Olaiya.
33. His style of music is unique and timeless. It always has a message inspired by contemporary Nigerian society or his life experiences.
34. 2face’s six albums as a solo artist are Face 2 Face (2004), Grass 2 Grace (2006), The Unstoppable (2008), The Unstoppable International Edition (2010), Away & Beyond (2012), and The Ascension (2014).
35. 2face 6th studio album, The Ascension, was the highest selling album on iTunes Nigeria for weeks.
36. At the age of 26, 2face almost died. He was involved in a car accident and was unconscious for hours.

37. He officially discontinued the use of the name 2face and changed to Tubaba or 2Baba as his stage name in July 2014 and even held a send forth party to celebrate his change of name. However, his fans have stubbornly stuck to 2face.
38. He is the brand ambassador of many blue chip companies like Airtel, Guiness, Nigerian Breweries, NAFDAC
39. He is also an ambassador of the Red Cross Society of Nigeria thus his celebrating his 40th birthday at the Red Cross secretariat in Lagos.

40. The singer recently announced his plan to reduce the number of shows and concerts he performs at once he turns 40.