When Nigerian music icon Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, appeared on the debut episode of Nedu Wazobia’s new +234 Mzansi Podcast, the expectations were for easy laughs, cross-border gist, and cultural commentary.
Instead, what unfolded was something else: a confessional monologue from one of Africa’s most private celebrities, finally breaking his silence about his decades-long emotional burden.
2Baba didn’t name names. He didn’t shout. But his words pierced louder than headlines:
“This thing wey dem dey call ‘living in bondage’… na real thing.”
And just like that, a storm of reactions began.
This article traces the full spectrum of what 2Baba said, what he meant, what he left unsaid, and what it means for Annie Idibia, his ex-wife, and co-star in one of Nigeria’s most storied celebrity marriages.
It also explains how Nedu’s new podcast used this interview to reset the conversation around African podcasting post-scandal.
ALL THE BOMBSHELL CLAIMS 2BABA MADE
1. “I was living in bondage” — Emotional Entrapment in His Marriage
Of all the statements 2Baba made, none stung louder than his metaphor of bondage. While promoting no album, and no scandal at the time, he quietly admitted:
“This thing wey dem dey call ‘living in bondage’… na real thing.”
Delivered with a near whisper, the words shattered years of silence.
In Nigerian pop culture, “living in bondage” is not just a phrase—it is symbolic. It’s a shorthand for toxic, manipulative relationships cloaked in loyalty or spirituality.
By invoking this phrase, 2Baba told fans what many had whispered for years: that behind his stoic public face lay years of emotional struggle in his marriage with Annie Macaulay, the Nollywood actress he married in 2012 and dated intermittently since 2002.
Whether spiritual or psychological, 2Baba hinted that his household was neither calm nor safe.
2. “They wanted me dead” — Alleged Threats and Mental Trauma
One of the darkest claims was that “some people were ready to kill me.”
He didn’t clarify who those people were—whether insiders in the marriage, outsiders from the industry, or spiritual actors—but the implication was chilling.
For a man who has survived betrayal, controversy, and physical health scares, to now add threats to life into the narrative painted a picture of serious paranoia, pain, and prolonged anxiety.
This wasn’t the 2Baba who cracked jokes at events or smiled behind sunglasses. This was a man reaching his threshold.
3. “Annie, Pero, Natasha… My Kids Are My Priority” — Rewriting His Relationship Philosophy
In a surprising twist, 2Baba made it clear that he wasn’t there to bash Annie alone.
He listed the three most significant women in his life:
Annie Macaulay – his ex-wife, mother of two of his children.
Pero Adeniyi – mother of three of his children, and the woman at the center of many Annie-vs-Pero social media feuds.
Sunmbo Adeoye – now a pastor’s wife, and mother of two of his other kids.
But it was the mention of Natasha Osawaru, rumoured to be 2Baba’s current wife, that sparked speculation. Referring to all these women as “amazing women,” 2Baba insisted:
“My real concern is my kids.”
He refused to prioritize romance or reputation. His message was plain: The feuds, accusations, and loyalty wars were behind him. All he wanted now was peace—for his children, if not for himself.
4. . “I Don’t Want to Die…” — The Cryptic Goodbye?
In a portion that has since gone viral across Facebook, 2Baba reportedly said:
“I don’t want to die in a relationship where I am no longer at peace.”
This could be interpreted many ways—perhaps about Annie, perhaps not. But when placed beside his past attempts to leave quietly (Annie herself once shared that he’d “run away” from home for weeks), it suggests a man tired of trying, tired of defending, and—perhaps—preparing the public for a formal separation that eventually unfolded.
THE HISTORY OF 2BABA & ANNIE — FROM LOVE TO LAMENT
1. Early 2000s: The Industry Couple
2Baba and Annie met before he became a megastar. She appeared in his iconic African Queen music video in 2004. Their early love was genuine, fiery, and complicated.
2. The Scandals: Pero, Pregnancy, Polygamy
Despite their bond, 2Baba had multiple children with multiple women. While Annie stood by him publicly, it clearly left bruises.
In 2021, during the Netflix reality show Young, Famous & African, Annie broke down, saying:
“Do you know how many times I’ve cried because I feel like 2Baba loves his other women more?”
The world watched her insecurity unfold. The trauma wasn’t imagined—it was decades in the making.
SOCIAL REACTIONS AND CULTURAL INTERPRETATIONS
Annie’s Silence — The Most Deafening Sound
As of June 30, 2025, Annie has said little publicly. But on June 28, she posted a cryptic video on Instagram, walking silently on a beach with no caption. Fans interpreted it as grief—or release.
Many await a formal interview, perhaps with another host, where she can reclaim her voice.
Public Opinions: Split Between Sympathy and Suspicion
Supporters say 2Baba finally showed vulnerability after years of public attack.
Critics argue he threw Annie under the bus after benefiting from her loyalty for decades.
Some have pointed out:
“You don’t call someone ‘amazing’ and then say you were in bondage.”
Others believe this was long overdue—a man finally breaking silence.
What Does ‘Bondage’ Really Mean?
Nigerians understand the word beyond its literal use. It could mean:
- Emotional blackmail
- Constant quarrels
- Jealousy and surveillance
- Career sabotage
- Familial manipulation
Whatever 2Baba meant, it wasn’t light.
NEDU’S NEW PODCAST — A SOFT REBRANDING THROUGH FIRE
Exit from Honest Bunch: A Reputation Damaged
Earlier in 2025, Nedu Wazobia left The Honest Bunch podcast following multiple controversies—especially allegations involving social critic VeryDarkMan. That fallout nearly ended his podcasting career.
But in classic Nigerian comeback fashion, Nedu didn’t beg for forgiveness. He relocated, re-strategized, and rebranded.
+234 Mzansi: A Cross-Continental Comeback
The debut of +234 Mzansi, co-hosted with comedian Acapella and South African media host Kifilwe, signaled Nedu’s return.
Bringing in 2Baba as the debut guest was no accident. It was a calculated masterstroke. The podcast hit a significant number of views in less than 48 hours, reshaping Nedu’s image from “gossip merchant” to “emotional excavator.”
In many ways, 2Baba’s brokenness mirrored Nedu’s redemption.
CLOSING REFLECTION: A MAN UNTYING HIMSELF
In over 20 minutes of soft-spoken honesty, 2Baba broke a decade of myth. He told us he was in pain, that he stayed longer than he should have, and that the only thing that still mattered to him was the peace of his children.
Nedu’s podcast, whether by luck or timing, became the pulpit for this unraveling. It marked a continued era—for 2Baba as a father first, and for Nedu as a content host who finally stepped away from chaos and leaned into vulnerability.
But somewhere in this story is Annie, unquoted, unheard, and—perhaps—misunderstood.
Her silence now holds the weight of every word 2Baba said.
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