2Baba Idibia: The secret tears of the Idoma-born superstar

In the story of Innocent Ujah Idibia, better known as 2Baba, the past and present collide in fascinating ways. His great-grandfather, Pa Idibia Ijeh, a railway worker from Amufu Ai-Ejeba, was a skilled flutist who entertained white men in his time—a musical legacy that seems to run through the veins of his descendants. Indeed, a lion does not beget a goat.

For 2Baba, the number three has long been a motif in his life: before he became a household name, he passed through three music groups; his career took flight in a band of three members; he has faced death three times; and at one point, he was the father of three baby mamas—now four. Yet, despite these complexities, 2Baba himself is not a “three-star” man.

He is a five-star artiste. Call him an R&B maestro, a hip hop icon, or a folk favourite—each label fits seamlessly. From the moment he shed the cloak of the defunct Plantashun Boiz to pursue a solo career, 2Baba has been trailed by a mix of spectacular success and inevitable controversies.

Over 25 years, a span during which many Nigerian musicians rise and quietly fade, 2Baba’s meteoric journey continues to soar. His songs have become timeless: from the globally adored “African Queen” to “True Love” and “Implication”, he has consistently delivered music that resonates across generations. His persona grows more endearing each year, cementing his place as a cult figure in Nigerian music.

Yet, beneath the glittering success lies a quiet vulnerability. His latest track, “Save Me – To Kill a Monkey”, is a reflective plea: “Save me from myself.” Here, fans are offered a glimpse of the man behind the superstar persona—a man who laughs outside while he cries behind closed doors.

2Baba’s personal life, too, has drawn public curiosity. In a 2011 interview with legendary journalist Mike Awoyinfa, he lamented that he had yet to sleep with a virgin, despite already fathering three children. Such revelations paint the portrait of a man constantly negotiating the pressures of fame, desire, and personal expectations.