How ‘African Queen’ redefined Annie, 2Baba’s love story

Within the 2000s, as Afrobeats, R&B, reggae, and hip-hop gained worldwide recognition, Harmless ‘2Baba’ Idibia was on the forefront of the motion.

He was not simply concerned; his monitor ‘African Queen’ from the album ‘Face 2 Face’ singled him out and have become some of the memorable songs of that period.

Launched in 2004 below Kennis Music report label, ‘African Queen’ took the Nigerian and African music scene by storm, redefining modern Afrobeats with its gentle melody, heartfelt lyrics, and common theme of affection.

In contrast to the dominant social gathering anthems of the time, the music stood out with its soulful rhythm and deep appreciation of African magnificence.

When the music’s iconic music video hit the airwaves, it wasn’t only a love music—it turned the soundtrack to 2Baba and Annie Idibia’s romance. This melody outlined their journey from younger lovers to one in every of Nigeria’s most celebrated {couples}.

For years, the music stood as a testomony to their love, a timeless tribute that followers linked to their enduring bond.

The lyric, “Yeah, yeah, you’re my African queen, oooh lord, oooh lord”, turned iconic in Nigerian popular culture, a phrase mature males used for the ladies of their goals. Regardless of gaining worldwide recognition, the music stays a timeless love music.

With the couple’s separation, the music carries a distinct weight—it’s not only a timeless love anthem however a poignant reminder of a as soon as lovely love story that didn’t fairly have its fairy-tale ending.

What was as soon as an emblem of deep affection now resonates as a bittersweet echo of goals unfulfilled.

African Queen

‘African Queen’, a guitar ballad infused with West African people music and hip-hop parts, was a standout monitor on 2Face Idibia’s debut solo studio album, ‘Face 2 Face.’

Now referred to as 2Baba, he launched the music after leaving Plantashun Boiz, the enduring Nigerian R&B group he co-founded with Blackface and Faze.

The music immediately hit Nigeria, shortly spreading throughout West and Southern Africa earlier than impacting Europe. Broadly considered a defining monitor in Nigeria’s new-school music period, ‘African Queen’ dominated radio stations, golf equipment, and weddings, cementing its standing as an anthem of affection.

At a time when Afrobeats was primarily centred on dance and social gathering themes, ‘African Queen’ proved that love ballads could possibly be simply as highly effective. It was additionally one of many first Nigerian songs to obtain heavy rotation on MTV Base, serving to to propel Afrobeats into mainstream international recognition.

Its inclusion within the 2006 Hollywood movie ‘Phat Girlz’ additional solidified its worldwide attraction. Nevertheless, the music’s success was later clouded by controversy.

Ahmedu ‘Blackface’ Obiabo, 2Baba’s former bandmate, accused him of stealing the music from him. After years of authorized disputes, they reached an out-of-court settlement in November 2019.

Following the decision, Blackface launched his model of the ‘African Queen’ in 2020, retaining key parts such because the lyrics, refrain, verses, and rhythm.

Annie’s video vixen

The music gained much more recognition for its music video, which featured three girls—Annie Idibia, Yvonne Jegede, and one other mannequin—symbolising the ‘African Queen’ that 2Baba sang about.

The video’s scenic visuals of nature emphasised African magnificence and ease. One of the vital talked-about elements of the video was Annie’s presence, subtly reinforcing her connection to 2Baba.

This element turned much more vital as their relationship advanced, making the music really feel deeply private to their love story.

Reflecting on her function as a video vixen in 2022, Annie revealed that her profession as a mannequin and actress was simply starting to take form when she was featured within the music video.

In a now-deleted Instagram publish, the mom of two wrote, “19 years in the past, whereas nonetheless struggling to seek out my toes within the modelling trade, my then boyfriend, who had simply damaged from a boy band group, known as me to star in his new music (African Queen).

“We each had no concept the music would change the whole music scene in Africa and its narrative and change into the most important music out of the continent. Quick ahead to 19 years later and nearly 10 years married to that tremendous uncommon human artist, we get to do that once more! It’s the smile season, guys!”

Blessing and curse

In 2017, the singer launched visuals for the remix of ‘African Queen’ to commemorate his fourth wedding ceremony anniversary with Annie Idibia, who featured within the 2004 authentic video.

He shot the video for the film ‘10 Days in Solar Metropolis’ set in South Africa, incorporating clips from his 2013 Dubai wedding ceremony with Annie.

2Baba starred within the film, which was produced by Ayo Makun (AY), alongside Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), Adesua Etomi, and Uti Nwachukwu, amongst different actors. The music was additionally one of many movie’s official soundtracks.

The music earned 2Baba a number of awards, together with ‘Finest Male Video’ and ‘Finest African Video’ on the 2005 Channel O Music Video Awards.

Though he had repeatedly said in interviews that the music was not directed at any explicit particular person however was a normal tribute to like and wonder, he admitted on the fifth episode of Showmax’s Journey of the Beats in 2022 that ‘African Queen’ was each a blessing and a curse to him.

He stated the music was his method of paying tribute to and celebrating African girls, acknowledging their power and wonder.

He additionally described it as a life-changing monitor that singlehandedly propelled him into the limelight and received him nationwide and worldwide recognition.

The music additional cemented his standing as ‘King of R&B’ in Nigeria and have become a template for creating quintessential Afrobeats love songs.

Nevertheless, 2Baba admitted that the music’s overwhelming success typically felt like a curse, because it turned the yardstick towards which his later works had been measured, making them appear much less impactful as compared.

He additionally expressed frustration that, irrespective of how a lot he advanced musically, ‘African Queen’ would all the time overshadow his different songs by way of success.

Emotional dimension

Whereas the music continues to make waves, the 49-year-old’s announcement of their separation on Sunday provides a brand new emotional dimension to ‘African Queen.’

As soon as a heartfelt tribute to Annie, the music now carries a bittersweet undertone, shifting from an emblem of eternal like to a nostalgic reminder of a relationship that didn’t stand the check of time.

This shift is clear within the video’s feedback part on the Plateau-born singer’s YouTube web page.

PREMIUM TIMES reviewed the video uploaded to YouTube 13 years in the past, and has amassed over 25 million views.

READ ALSO: Seven occasions Annie, 2Baba’s love story made us imagine in ‘Fortunately Ever After’

The highest remark reads, “Who got here right here first after Tuface posted about their separation on his Instagram story?”

The video now has 11,000 feedback, lots of which concentrate on 2Baba and Annie’s separation, making it the dominant matter of dialogue.

One remark learn, “Annie’s and 2Face separation introduced me again right here to hearken to this masterpiece.”

One other one learn, “Anybody right here after the divorce announcement? This video and music won’t ever hit the identical.”

Watch the African Queen music video right here.