Nigerian singer, Blackface, has opened up about his emotions following a shocking revelation made by Kenny Ogungbe regarding the controversial song, African Queen.
For years, Blackface has accused his former Plantashun Boiz group member, 2Baba, of not giving him proper credit and royalties for the 2004 hit, which was released under 2Baba’s name without any acknowledgment of Blackface's contribution.
This accusation gained more attention when Kennis Music CEO Kenny Ogungbe shed light on the history of the group during a recent appearance on the Honest Bunch podcast. Ogungbe disclosed that Blackface was the first to release music among the trio of Plantashun Boiz but also revealed that African Queen was registered under 2Baba’s name without Blackface being credited. The shocking admission fueled Blackface’s emotional response.
In a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter), Blackface expressed the deep pain and frustration he felt due to what he termed years of sabotage and injustice, particularly within the Nigerian music industry. He accused the industry of undermining his career, sabotaging his opportunities, and tarnishing his reputation in an effort to diminish his influence and keep him from being recognized for his contributions. He explained that this sabotage was a calculated move to silence his voice and prevent him from being a prominent figure in the industry. Blackface claimed that as a result, he lost several performance opportunities, both big and small, and that his creative work was stolen by other artists who took his ideas and melodies for their own hits. Despite this, he continued to persevere in the industry.
Blackface’s post delved deeper into the sense of isolation he experienced, recounting how he was often shunned by the industry and the media. He shared how, in some cases, people went as far as to tell him that before they could engage in any business with him, he would first have to make peace with certain individuals, which he believed was part of a broader "agenda" to sabotage his career. He also recalled a particular incident when he was invited to perform at a show in Olodi Apapa, only to find that upon his arrival, some people cleared out of the VIP area to avoid being seen with him. He explained how he didn’t understand the significance of this until later when a person from the event revealed that it was due to the negative press surrounding him regarding the alleged song theft. Despite these challenges, Blackface remained resilient, explaining how he continued to push forward with his music and even planned to recruit new members to the Plantashun Boiz in an effort to keep the group’s legacy alive.
Blackface’s post concluded with a powerful message, questioning why people chose to dishonestly manipulate his career when the truth was clear all along. He pointed out that while people tried to diminish his role in the industry, many of the hits enjoyed by other artists were made possible because they had drawn inspiration from his work. The message was a call for justice and recognition, as Blackface boldly declared that now was the time for him to receive the credit he deserved. He ended his post by recalling the time a publication suggested that his celebrity status should be removed, calling it a deliberate effort to tarnish his name and reputation.
Guys I am really emotional right now…What in the world took you guys too long to come out and clear the air that you guys falsely registered my song “African Queen”without my consentand excluded my name so you guys can collect all the writers and publishing royalties?
— GHETTO CHILD (@Blackfacenaija) December 28, 2024
