Funsho Arogundade.
On 18 September, Afro-pop music star, Innocent ‘2Face’ Idibia, will clock 40. In commemoration of the musician’s landmark birthday, Nigerian Entertainment Today, NET, will be presenting to the public his biography.
The new book, entitled “A Very Good Bad Guy: The Story Of Innocent 2Face Idibia” is the story of the music star and contains a detailed interview with him, lyrics and discography, views from some of those who have shaped his life and career, an insider’s journey through his life and times, as well as a collection of some of the most important articles, reviews, features and news about him since 2004.
Edited by the musician’s former publicist and NET publisher, Ayeni Adekunle Samuel, the book will include contributions from his mom, his wife and closest friends plus never seen before photos.
“A Very Good Bad Guy: The Story of Innocent 2Face Idibia” is first of its kind for a Nigerian pop artiste and indeed, for a contemporary Nigerian. “Apart from being a fantastic musician and a wonderful person, 2Face is also a personal friend and source of inspiration; so few things give me as much joy as being able to give this gentleman some of the recognitions he deserves on the occasion of his 40th birthday,” said Adekunle, renowned entertainment journalist and PR practitioner.
He added, “These are important projects Nigeria must do for our cultural posterity. We must tell our stories and document our history. NET is delighted to compile the life stories of this cultural icon of our times so that our children and our children’s children can read it and learn. And this is the first of many to come.”
The book project, done in commemoration of the musician’s 40th birthday, is part of the NET book series, which kicked off in April 2015. It is the second in the NET Books series after the Chris Ihidero collection, “Wanderings of a Rapidly Degenerating Mind”. The book’s presentation is planned to coincide with Idibia’s 40th birthday celebrations.
Also, 2Face described the coming of the biography as a real good feeling. “I really feel good knowing that all these years that I’ve been surviving in this industry, someone has been taking note, compiling my story so that on an occasion like this, they will release it for the world to see. I’m really feeling the love but importantly I hope those coming behind will read and learn from my story,” the humble superstar opined.
Born in Jos, Plateau State, 2Face Idibia was raised in Makurdi, Benue State where he attended Demonstration Primary School and Saint Gabriel’s secondary school. After a stint at the Institute of Management & Technology (IMT) Enugu, he dropped out to pursue a music career in Lagos in 1997. In the same year, he teamed up with Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo aka Blackface to form Plantashun Boyz, which was later joined by Chibuzor Orji aka Faze.
After achieving success with the band, 2Face left Plantashun Boyz in 2004 to embark on a successful solo career which has spawned six critically acclaimed studio albums and several local and international awards