The singer also used the occasion to introduce his latest business venture, a food brand.
Music veteran Innocent “2Baba” Idibia previewed his forthcoming album, “Oldest Young Man”, on Saturday at a listening party held to mark his 51st birthday in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Natasha Osawaru, the Edo State lawmaker and 2Baba’s partner, was absent from the event. Her absence came amid continued reports about the state of their relationship. It was not immediately clear why she did not attend.
Also absent were the mothers of the singer’s children: actress Annie Macaulay, Sunmbo Adeoye and Pero Adeniyi.
Blackface, with whom the singer fell out due to long-running disputes over song ownership, royalties, and credit for major hits like “African Queen” and “Let Somebody Love You”, was also absent at the party.
2Baba announced his separation from Annie, with whom he has two daughters, in January 2025 after more than a decade of marriage. The couple married traditionally in Lagos in 2012 and held a widely publicised wedding ceremony in Dubai the following year.
Sunmbo, who has two sons with the singer, is now married to Pastor David Adeoye, founder and senior pastor of Royalty Christian Centre. Pero, who has three children with 2Baba, was also not seen at the gathering.
The singer’s children and his mother, Rose Idibia, joined him onstage to cut his birthday cake.
Guests were also treated to a nostalgic moment when 2Baba and Faze performed a freestyle that revisited their years as members of Plantashun Boiz. The performance drew loud applause from the audience.
The duo belonged to the group, along with Ahmedu “Blackface” Obiabo. Formed in the late 1990s, Plantashun Boiz became one of Nigeria’s influential music groups before its members pursued solo careers.
Beyond the birthday festivities, the gathering gave guests a chance to hear songs from “Oldest Young Man” ahead of its official release.
The singer began his birthday activities on Friday with the release of “Mental”, a collaboration with singer Fave.
He also used the occasion to introduce 2Baba Jollof, a new food business representing another step into entrepreneurship for the music star.
Mallam Yankee, 2Baba’s manager, said the activities surrounding the birthday went beyond celebrating the singer’s new age, describing them as the beginning of a new phase in his career.
He said the new chapter would see 2Baba pursue more projects in the coming months while continuing to build on his decades-long music career.
Born on 18 September 1975, 2Baba rose to national prominence as a member of Plantashun Boiz before launching a successful solo career.
His 2004 debut solo album, Face 2 Face, featured “African Queen”, the hit song that helped establish him as one of the leading figures in contemporary African music.
The reported disagreement between 2Baba and Natasha came to public attention in August following an alleged confrontation at the launch of the ’90s Lounge in Abuja.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the incident fuelled speculation about tensions between the couple after a video from the venue circulated on social media.
The footage appeared to show Natasha and 2Baba during a confrontation, but it did not capture the events leading up to the encounter or establish the cause of the disagreement.
An eyewitness, however, claimed that Natasha arrived at the venue with a group of men and attempted to speak with the singer.
The witness alleged that she approached 2Baba’s vehicle after he arrived and asked to speak with him, leading to a commotion outside the lounge.
The development came shortly after 2Baba performed at Daddy Showkey’s “50 Years on Stage” celebration at Eko Hotels & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.
During that performance, the singer briefly referred to some of his recent experiences and said he was no longer interested in seeking trouble.
“I’ve decided not to look for trouble again. I’ve gone to look for trouble, and I’ve seen the trouble. Tell your neighbours never to look for trouble,” he said.
