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Whoever said education is the only key to success..? All 2Baba needed was to be humble and cool, not to be taken for a fool just because he’s not finished school, cause he never gave another man “yawa” (a word for disappointments or troubles), had God on his side and since he is blessed by Him, no one can curse him… those are the words of 2Baba (paraphrased by the blogger though) in his popular hit track title; "Nfana Baga" and he must quite know himself well to describe himself with such perfect accuracy in that song. He is just a "One Love, My People" kind of guy which of course is his catch praise.
Born on the cold, serene and scenic environment of the Plateau – Jos; the home peace and tourism, Innocent Ujah Idibia as his parents called him at birth is a legend and an icon to be reckoned with the Nigerian music industry and the world over, his success stories and ascension to the crest of his career cannot just be captured in a book talk less of a blog page. But we will do well to summarize most.
Born the 18th. day of September, 1975 in Jos, Plateau state of Nigeria, Innocent Ujah Idibia aka 2Baba hails from Benue state, Nigeria, attended Mt. St. Gabriel’s Secondary School, Markurdi and proceeded to Institute of Management Technology, Enugu for Preliminary National Diploma course in Business Administration and Management. While there, he performed at school organized shows and parties, as well as other regional schools such as the University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN) and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). He eventually dropped out of school to pursue his music career and also had composed and sung jingles at the GB Fan Club at Enugu State Broadcasting Services in 1996 while still in IMT, Enugu. At that point he also adopted his first stage name; 2Face (Tuface) saying he was trying to demarcate his personal life with his business life…and thus the birth of the legendary career began…
Tuface moved from Enugu to Lagos and formed a Band group under Nelson Brown’s label Dove records. The band consisted of Faze (Chibuzor Orji) and Black Face (Ahmedu Augustine), both of whom he met while at IMT, Enugu. The Trio produced two successful albums; Body and Soul in 2000 and Sold Out in 2003 then disbanded in 2004. The break-up of the band caused a lot of rift among relations as they took up solo careers which turned out to be a “Faze-TuFace Beef” (a battle of insults and grievances each singer sings against the other in their songs). After a couple of years, the band reunited and produced a third album titled Plan B in 2007 before their final disbandment.
Prior to their final disbandment in 2007, Tuface in his solo career in 2004 released his debut album; Face 2 Face which established him as a viable solo artist and 2006, he released yet another album; Grass to Grace and became the founder of Hypertek Entertainment. His world acclaimed hit track; African Queen was used in the soundtrack for the movie Phat Girlz and Ten Days In Suncity which were released internationally.
Tuface is the first Nigerian Artist to have an appropriately priced international album titled; The Unstoppable - International Edition having released that same album in 2010 as a promotional album titled; The Unstoppable. The album grabbed him many awards upon release in the; 2010 Soundcity Music Video Awards, Chanel O Music Awards, Best African Western Awards and the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Male and Artist of the Year.
Tuface became a world brand name as he was part of the One8 Project alongside seven other musicians across Africa recording a single with R. Kelly and Prince Lee titled; Hands Across The World. He is the first non-Liberian to become an hononary member of the Liberian Music Society in recognition for his outstanding contribution to growth of music in Africa. He has been named Red Cross Ambassador Society of Nigeria, Brand Ambassador for Guiness, Nigeria Breweries, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and many more, has had several collaborations all over the world, giving his collaborators the opportunities to win awards for each duet such as Street Credibility by 9ice, Possibility by P-Square and many more. He is respected, revered, adored by colleagues and entertainers in Nigerian Music Industry and the world over as Role Model.
To celebrate his fortieth (40th.) birthday in 2015, Tuface organized an all star tribute concert on the 20th. September at the Eko Hotel and Suites Convention Centre and featured many notable musicians such Sound Sultan, Don Jazzy, D”Banj, Wizkid, Patoranking, Vector, Wande Coal, Seyi Shey, Burna Boy etc., to perform at the concert. The concert pooled a lot of dignitaries and top government functionaries from all walks of life in every nook and cranny.
Tuface's success stories are not without some sorts of controversies or catastrophes as he was known to survive gunshot injuries from armed robbers, his beef with his former band members, Faze and Black Face, having seven kids with four different ladies but none of these could mar or break his love with his longtime sweetheart; Annie Macauley whom he got married to on the 8th. Of March, 2013 in Eket, Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria and the White wedding was done in Dubai on the 23rd. of March, 2013 graced by all and sundry. .
Tuface has an NGO called 2Face Reach-Out Foundation with the motto; "Service to Humanity”. He released a song; "Man unkind" in 2009 to raise awareness on the menace of fake and substandard food and drug products in Nigeria as the brand Ambassador of NAFDAC then, awarded the International Youth Ambassador for Peace Summit and the Nigerian Youth Merit Award by the National Youth Council of Nigeria in recognition to youth development in Nigeria. He has and is still campaigning against violence during election period, spoken out against bad ills of governance, done alot of adverts against corruption and many more... He is just many men in one and these are not in anyway the only achievements he has made. He is a role model to not only the youths but many who know value of exploring and making impact with their talents against all odds.
So I ask again, Whoever said; education is the only key to success..? "Nfana Baga o, never give another man yawa o…one love, my people.”.