‘African Queen’ has been both a blessing and a burden – 2Face

Legendary Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Face, has revealed that his hit track African Queen was the song that ignited his career, describing it as one he deeply connects with — despite calling it a “burden” over the years.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Entertainment & Lifestyle show, 2Face said,

“African Queen has been a very huge blessing, and e come turn to problem join for me. But I am grateful for everything.”

Released in 2004, African Queen catapulted 2Face to international fame, earning him global recognition as the first African artist to win the BET, MTV Europe, and MOBO Awards.

However, the classic hit has also been mired in controversy. 2Face’s former bandmate, Blackface, has repeatedly accused him of stealing the song — a claim 2Face has consistently denied, clarifying in past interviews that the track was a collaborative effort during their time together in the group Plantashun Boiz.

More than two decades later, the song remains a topic of debate, reigniting discussions in August 2025 after Billboard named African Queen the “Greatest Afrobeats Song of All Time.”