TheCable

Innocent Ujah Idibia, the definition of “ace Nigerian artiste” clocked 40 on Friday, a day after after Bukola Elemide, better known as Asa, hit her 32nd year.

Here are 40 things you should know about 2face, one of the most controversial-yet-respected musicians in Nigeria.

1. Though born in Jos, Plateau state Nigeria, Idibia is from Benue state and lives in Lagos state, Nigeria.
2. In 2007, Idibia became the first Nigerian to win a MOBO (Music of black origin) award.
3. In 2015, the 40-year-old was named the fifth richest artiste in Nigeria, according to Forbes, trailing Don Jazzy, Psquare, D’banj, and Wizkid.
4. He is appreciated by former vice president Atiku Abubakar as a trail blazer in the Nigerian music scene.
5. He was the first Nigerian (alongside D’banj), in 2011, to win the prestigious Black Entertainment (BET) awards.
6. He has been in the music industry for more than half of his years, being active from 1994 till date (21 years).
7. Idibia was on the back-up team for Weird Mc while she was recording her first album.
8. He attended Saint Gabriel’s secondary school in Makurdi, Benue state, before moving on to the Institute of Management & Technology, Enugu (IMT), where he eventually dropped out.
9. He did not start his music career with the name 2face? He switched over to the name in 1996.
10. In August 2015, he declared Wande Coal as the best Nigerian artiste, saying: “That boy hot die.”
11. In 2009, 2Face was appointed as ambassador by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
12. According to MTV, 2face’s African Queen is the greatest Nigerian song of all time.
13. He has five Headies (Hip Hop Awards) to his name.
14. Despite numerous nominations, he joins Beautiful Nubia as one of the very few Nigerians to have received a Kora awards.
15. 2face is one of the three who started the defunct Plantashun Boyz.
16. The trio released three albums, before each of them pursued a solo career.
17. His first solo album was in 2004; he titled it ‘Face2Face’.
18. 2face is signed onto Akon’s Konvict Muzik.
19. He owns a record label, Hypertek records, with leading artistes signed on to it.
20. 2face is married to Annie Idibia and according to her, Ujah, as she fondly calls him, is her first love.
21. 

The second 20 things about 2face are the 20 awards that defined his musical career:

1. Song of the year for “African Queen” 2004 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York
2. Best album of the year 2004, Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York
3. Best hip hop and R&B Artiste 2004 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York
4. Musician of the year 2004, City People Awards for Excellence Best Male Video 2005
5. Best African video of the year 2005 Channel O Music Video Awards
6. Best African act 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards
7. Best African act 2005 Kora Awards
8. Musician of the year 2006 The Future Awards
9. Africa break through artist of the year 2006 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York
10. Best album of the year 2007 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York
11. Best African act 2007 MOBO Awards
12. Song of the Decade 2007 Nigerian Music Awards
13. Best R’n’B / Pop album 2008 Hip-Hop World Awards
14. Best African act 2008 Australian African Awards
15. Best R&B MTV Africa Music Awards 2009
16. Most gifted video of the year 2011, Only Me 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards
17. MTV Africa Music Awards Best Video for “Enter the Place” 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards
18. Artist of the Year MTV Africa Music Awards 2010
19. 16th edition of the Annual THISDAY Awards for enduring culture presented by Bill Clinton 2011
20. Best R&B single for song, Let somebody love you, The Headies 2014