When Innocent Ujah Idibia popularly known across Africa as 2Baba posted an open letter titled “A Short Story of Gratitude”, it was more than an anniversary note. It was a declaration of humility from a man whose voice has defined a generation of Nigerian music.
As he prepares to mark 25 years in the music industry on November 14, 2025, at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, the award-winning singer used his own words to turn the spotlight on those who built his story. He wrote:
“This celebration is not mine alone. It belongs to everyone who played a role in shaping the story of Innocent Idibia, 2Baba.”
The Village Behind the Legend
2Baba’s open letter reads like a roll call of gratitude or a map tracing the people who transformed a boy from Jos with a dream into one of Africa’s most beloved voices.
Nelson Brown, he recalls, was “the first to see light in the dream of three young men when no one else believed.” In the late 1990s, Brown signed the then-unknown trio “2Baba, BlackFace, and Faze” to Dove Records, nurturing what became Plantashun Boiz. “You gave us a voice when we barely had a microphone,” 2Baba wrote. “Without you, our beginning would have been just a wish.”
Then came Baba Keke and D1, veteran radio personalities turned label executives, who offered him his first professional record deal, an inflection point that launched his solo era. 2Baba continued:
“You gave me my first professional deal, a defining moment that changed not just my life, but the entire entertainment landscape”.
The duo had championed the sound of Plantashun Boiz on RayPower FM and later opened doors for the solo artist to thrive.
He reserved special praise for Eddie Lawani, one of Nigeria’s most respected music entrepreneurs and talent managers, who gave Plantashun Boiz a platform at a time the group was struggling to find an audience. He said:
“You didn’t just invest in us, you believed in the purity of our craft.” Lawani would go on to mentor the group beyond business, helping them navigate the industry’s early chaos.
And then there was DJ Jimmy Jatt who is a peer, friend, and consistent supporter. From the earliest days, Jimmy Jatt played 2Baba’s music on his mixtapes and at Lagos clubs when few others would. “From the very start, you’ve shown me nothing but real love and industry respect,” the letter reads.
The Manager Who Became a Brother
To Efe Omorogbe, his long-time manager and founder of Now Muzik, the gratitude runs deep. 2Baba wrote: “You are not just my manager, you are my brother, backbone, and soldier.”
Their partnership spans two decades, through highs (African Queen, MTV awards, global tours) and lows (legal disputes, label battles, personal trials). Omorogbe, often described as the strategist behind the brand, helped 2Baba transition from artist to institution. He continued:
“You’ve guided me with truth, sometimes hard truth, but always with love.”
Plantashun Boiz: The Brotherhood That Defined a Generation
No 2Baba story is complete without BlackFace and Faze. The trio’s journey from Enugu to Lagos and from college shows to platinum sales, laid the blueprint for what Nigerian pop would become. 2Baba wrote to his former group;
“Our story cannot and will never be complete without you.
“Plantashun Boiz was not just a group, it was a brotherhood that changed the sound and soul of Nigerian music.”
Their breakup in 2004 was messy, marked by creative tension and financial disputes. But time, he admits, has softened the edges. “We had our differences, but the roots we planted together still bear fruit,” he added.
Industry observers note that even through public friction, especially BlackFace’s long-running claims over copyright infringement and the authorship of African Queen, 2Baba has consistently spoken with respect. His letter now formalizes that reconciliation in spirit, if not in contract.
To Fans, Media, and Colleagues: “Without You, There’d Be No Me”
The letter widens from personal acknowledgements to collective appreciation: producers, DJs, promoters, journalists, and the millions who have sung along over 25 years.
“From producers, DJs, media houses, promoters, and fellow artists, to every fan who ever sang along, streamed a song, bought a ticket, or sent a prayer, this milestone belongs to all of us.”
His gratitude underscores how Nigerian pop’s rise from the Alaba market to global stages was built by networks of risk-takers and believers, not just stars.
A Career Etched in Nigerian Music History
Born in Jos in 1975 and raised partly in Makurdi and Enugu, 2Baba left school to chase a dream that would define a generation. From Plantashun Boiz’ debut Body & Soul (2000) to his own Face 2 Face(2004) and the global success of African Queen, he became the emblem of modern Nigerian pop.
He has since released seven studio albums, collected more than 40 awards including the MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act (2005) and founded the 2Baba Foundation, focusing on youth empowerment and peace advocacy.
Resilience, Reinvention, and Reflection
Even after 25 years, 2Baba refuses to coast. In mid-2025, he announced a strategic career overhaul, appointing a new management team to “redefine the next phase” of his brand. He teased new projects under the theme “May I Know You Again”—a phrase now tied to his November 14 celebration.
Through changing musical eras, from analog CDs to TikTok virality, he remains one of the few from Nigeria’s early 2000s generation still commanding relevance and respect.
The Final Word: A Life of Gratitude
2Baba ends his letter with a line that doubles as a prayer. He writes:
“This journey has been more than music; it has been a story of faith, love, resilience, and unity. I thank God for the grace to still stand, still sing, and still love.”
For an artist who has seen the rise and fall of labels, genres, and even friendships, 2Baba’s open letter reframes his 25-year milestone not as a victory lap, but as a thanksgiving service.
As he steps onto that Abuja stage in November, surrounded by peers, family, and fans, his words will echo beyond the music: “I am, because you believed.”
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