Over the past few weeks, the man commonly referred to as a ‘contemporary Nigerian music legend’, 2Face Idibia
has been on tour. Having concluded his university campus tour, he went
off to the USA for some select shows out there and then he’ll perform in
the UK before he ends his sojourn in other African countries.
So, it’s safe to say that 2Face is a very busy man right now.
On the Nigerian Music Industry of Today
The industry is ripe, a lot of things are happening, many people are
getting involved now, and many are interested in artist management now
than some years ago. We have more entertainment lawyers, more promoters,
and more people that are interested in music business now than some
years ago. So the industry is growing.
The
quality of music and videos and the sound have tremendously improved.
The talent has always been there, but these days you find that it is
more of packaging than talent. Although, even with talent, you still
need to package the product, but it is more of packaging now. I listen
to a lot of music these days and you find that it just a few of the
artistes today who actually have talent for music, majority is just
packaging. But the thing is, entertainment is about entertainment, you
know, it’s allowed. Understand what I’m saying?
One
thing about entertainment, music especially is that beyond talent,
which you definitely need, you also need good management, good
character. A lot involves making that talent work.
On the qualities he cherishes most about his wife, Annie
I have known her for a long time and for me she has a gentle heart, a
good heart and that was the major quality that attracted me to her.
On 2Face staying faithful in his marriage
The day I decided to go public was the day I gave my privacy away. It’s
only natural – if you put yourself out there – that people are going to
say different stuff, even when it’s not true. You laugh if you hear the
funny ones; you are surprised when you hear the malicious and wicked
ones. But what people think about you is none of your business, it’s
their business. So, na their headache if dem dey worry. I just look at it and say, ‘okay oh, na you be the police na’ (laughing). I just try my best to be a good person, you know.
On Being a Role Model
If they say I’m not a role model, so be it. Let them not follow my footsteps. Let’s leave it like that.
I’m
not a role model. I’m just a guy that’s living his life. I’m not
forcing anybody to do anything, so you if you feel you want to follow my
footsteps, it’s your choice. But I’m not going to apologize for the
choices I have made. I’m not going to apologize for accepting my
responsibility, saying yes, it happened when it happened and I’m not
going to run away from it. I didn’t tell anybody I was a role model in
the first place, so, if anyone says I’m not a role model, it’s their
opinion. Let them live their own clean life. Let me live my own
‘nonsense’ life.
On Being a Father
It’s not easy. Sometimes, it is painful, especially when you don’t get
to see them as often as you would wish to because of work. Today I’m
here, tomorrow, I’m there, sometimes for weeks, months; plus the fact
that they have different moms… I didn’t plan for it this way, but it
happened and I have accepted it, no shaking. My plan was to have a wife
and then have children. Something happened along the line, but I didn’t
run away from it.
On his business endeavours outside of music
The funny thing is [I am involved in] everything, but I’ll just say
real estate. Somehow you can never go wrong with real estate, man.
On going back to school to study Law
Yes, I want to do that. I can’t say when exactly, maybe in the next two or three years? But I’m definitely going to do that.
