Legendary Nigerian singer, Innocent ‘2Face’ Idibia, has finally opened up about his evergreen hit, African Queen — the song that made him an African icon but also brought its share of headaches.

Speaking during a recent Entertainment & Lifestyle show, 2Face admitted that the record which launched him into global fame has been both “a blessing and a problem.”

“African Queen has been a very huge blessing, and e come turn to problem join for me. But I am grateful for everything,” he said with a smile.

Released in 2004, African Queen became one of the biggest love songs to ever come out of Africa — a timeless anthem that earned 2Face international awards like the BET, MTV Europe, and MOBO Awards, making him the first African artist to pull off that kind of global recognition.

But behind the glory came years of controversy. His former Plantashun Boiz bandmate, Blackface, has repeatedly accused him of stealing the song — a claim 2Face has constantly denied, explaining it was originally a joint effort back in their group days.

The debate reignited recently after Billboard named African Queen the “Greatest Afrobeats Song of All Time” in 2025, throwing the spotlight back on both men and the legacy of the song.

Two decades later, 2Face still holds his head high — thankful for how the song shaped his career, even with all the noise that followed.

“The song gave me history, fame, recognition, and influence,” he reflected. “But it also came with arguments, accusations, and pressure that never seemed to end.”

For 2Face, African Queen remains both a crown and a cross — the melody that defined his life and continues to echo through African music history.