To download African world music songs by 2FACE, please visit StayAround.com
NEWS AND MEDIA
It’s official – Nigerian 2–Face Idibia tonight made music history by becoming the first artist to win the Best African Act award at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon. The award was created in 2005 to mark the addition of MTV base, MTV’s pan-African TV channel, to the MTV global television family
2-FACE won the top prize at the glittering ceremony from the Atlantic Pavilion, Lisbon, despite intense competition from fellow contenders 02 (Angola), Zamajobe (South Africa), Kleptomaniax (Kenya) and Kaysha (DRC). 2-FACE received his award from MTV VJs Tim Cash (MTV UK & Ireland) and China (MTV France).
Angolan nominees 02 attended the Awards in Lisbon alongside 2-FACE (Nigeria), Zamajobe (South Africa) and Kaysha (DRC) who rubbed shoulders on the red carpet with the biggest and best in the music industry including soulful Senegalese newcomer Akon, multi-million selling Brit quartet Coldplay, electrifying rock band, Foo Fighters, animated four piece Gorillaz with De La Soul, politically-charged US punkers Green Day, legendary music icon Madonna, irrepressible music showman Robbie Williams, sassy pop act Pussycat Dolls, Latin American superstar Shakira, uncompromising rock quad System Of A Down and pop-funk music collective The Black Eyed Peas.
Among the presenters at the star-studded awards were Jermaine Dupri, Nelly Furtado, Nono Gomes and a host of presenters from the worlds of film, music and sport including electro vixen Alison Goldfrapp, pop/rock siren Anastacia, dazzling movie star Brittany Murphy (Sin City, 8 Mile), UK R&B sensation, Craig David, Mexican movie star Diego Luna, Latin film idol Gael Garcia Bernal (Motorcycle Diaries, The King), Hollywood actor and rock musician Jared Leto (Requiem For A Dream, Lord Of War), singer-songwriter-pianist John Legend, Portuguese football hero Luis Figo, ragga master Sean Paul, dancehall king Shaggy, feisty pop trio Sugababes and Russian pop act t.A.T.u. The Awards were hosted by the fictional ‘Borat Sagdiyev’ character from the comedic arsenal created by Sacha Baron Cohen (better known as Ali G).
He started his music like most Nigerian youngmen with raw talents but he has been able, within so short a time, to carve a niche for himself locally.
But it would seem he is also set to conquer the world. Last Thursday in Lisbon, Portugal, Nigeria's 2 Face Idibia won this year's Best African Artist Award at the prestigious MTV Europe Music Award for 2005, thereby putting Nigeria on the global musical map as he now sings for a larger audience. How far will his talent take him? Davidson Iriekpen reports
Innocent Ujah Idibia as a name would draw recognition from only a select few who are informed music listeners and enthusiasts. But mention the name 2face and wham! You get everyone chanting any one of his popular songs such as Ifana Ibaga or African Queen.
2face entered the consciousness of Nigerians as a member of Plantashun Boyz, the immensely successful R&B/Hip-Hop boy band which included Blackface and Faze. Easily the most dominant force in the Plantashun Boyz, 2face has carried that overwhelming success over to his solo pursuit.
His debut album, Face 2 Face, presently enjoying heavy rotation on television and radio, is reported to have sold over 300,000 units in less than three months of release and the mania seems to be just getting started. Considered a sex symbol by adoring female fans since his emergence with the Plantashun Boyz, 2face's fan base has grown to include the guys, the kids, the mamas and papas.
Born in tin mining city of Jos, Plateau State, in the late 70s, 2face is a product of the Institute of Management Technology, Enugu. and he has emerged as one of the most respected vocalist/song writers in his country today. He is also a recipient of numerous awards such as Fame Music Awards (FMA), Award For Musical Excellence in Nigeria (AMEN), MNET's Award (Where You At?) etc.
He has also graced some of the biggest concerts in the land. 2face is unarguably at the top of his game and the Nigerian music scene at the moment and has every reason to chant his infections "Nothing Dey Happen" slogan because it is all too obvious that for the young man, this is only the beginning.
On Thursday night, in far away Lisbon, Portugal, 2 Face emerged the 2005 MTV Best African Artist in a contest that pitched him against four contenders also from the continent. They include, Zamajobe of South Africa, Kaysha of Democratic Republic of Congo, 02 of Angola and Kleptomaniax of Kenya, who are by all standards rising stars in their respective countries. That 2face clinched this prestigious title is a serious to Nigerian music.
The event tagged: 2005 MTV Europe Music Award, held at the prestigious Atlantic Pavilion located at the heart of the ancient city of Lisbon. Before the presentation on Thursday night, pundits had actually predicted 2face's victory considering his exploits on the music channel since its launch early this year in Lagos.
The event, which generated a record-breaking 13 million votes on-line and via WAP was spiced up with comics and jokes of the inimitable Borat Sagdiyev from the Sacha Baron Cohen arsenal of comedy characters.
Having watched him perform at launch, Alex Auks, Vice President and General Manager, MTV base, was full of confidence that the Nigerian pop music sensation would break record as the first African artiste to win the award.
The category which made its debut on the global live music event at the Lisbon outing was created to underscore the contribution that African artistes have made to the realization of the objective of the music channel. "This is a landmark year for Africa. First, MTV launched its first ever African channel, MTV base, and now it has created this milestone award to recognise the artistry, creativity and passion of African musicians.
MTV: Music Television, the first 24-hour video music network, is today the world's most widely distributed television network with nearly 419 million subscribers in 164 countries and territories. The leading multimedia brand for youth the world over, MTV has been named the world's most valuable media brand by Interbrand for the past four consecutive years and consistently ranks among the top 50 brands overall. With 80 distinct music programming services in Canada, Asia, Europe, Australia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, MTV tailors its channels to local cultural tastes with a mixture of national, regional and international artists, along with locally produced and globally shared programming.
Music and lifestyle are at the heart of the channel's programming, from music video-based shows to award-winning news coverage, as well as original long-format programming. MTV's regular programming includes series such as Total Request Live and The Real World: specials such as MTV's Choose or Lose and MTV News Special Reports: and events such as The MTV Video Music Awards and MTV's Movie Awards. MTV's edgy graphic look, irreverent VJs and innovative music specials and documentaries all contribute to MTV's status as the leading authority on music for generations of music fans and a worldwide pop culture phenomenon.
As a young band singer/songwriter, 2-FACE had since caught the picture of a superstar as a member of a pop music group, Plantashun Boyz. But his profile as R&B exponent of note began to assume a distinguishing outlook when he broke away from the group and cemented his solo popularity with his catchy, lyrically inspired, heartfelt songs, sung in a mixture of English, local dialect and Pidgin English
A truly iconic status was conferred by the massive success of his hit song, African Queen, a soulful anthem to the beauty of African women, which won fans across the African continent, and was subsequently chosen as the first ever song played on pan-African music channel and MTV's 100th channel, MTV base.
After major critical and financial success for his debut album, Face 2 Face, which has sold in excess of two million copies, a mantelpiece full of awards, and collaborations with Wyclef Jean and Beenie Man, Idibia's eagerly-awaited second album is due in late 2005.
Altogether, the presentation, which lasted till early hours of Friday, featured a total of 29 categories with pop music stars, Coldplay and Green Day winning two awards each. The former won awards for Best Song for 'Speed of Sound' and Best UK & Ireland Act while the latter won the Best Album for 'American Idiot' and emerged 'Best Rock Act'.
Popular musicians who performed at award night included Akon, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Gorillaz & De La Soul, Green Day, the Queen of pop, Madonna, Pussycat Dolls, Robbie Williams, Shakira, System of a Down and The Black Eyed Peas.
For more information on 2FACE please visit StayAround.com or go to Blue Pie Productions website at www.bluepie.com.au . 2 Face is a Blue Pie Productions, MGN PRODUCTIONS Nigeria and Perfect Pitch artist. 2 Face is out now on Blue Pie at all leading digital retailers on the planet.
NOVEMBER 2005
Blue Pie Productions + Perfect Pitch + MGN Productions team up to take Nigerian Music to the World. Blue Pie Productions has partnered with Nigeria's MGN Productions and alliance partner Perfect Pitch Marketing to showcase to Australia and other audiences outside Africa, what we consider to be a wonderful catalogue of exciting new Nigerian artists. Under the three-way agreement, Blue Pie will be responsible for digital distribution of MGN's catalogue via major online retailers including iTunes, MSN, eMusic, Walmart, MusicNow, MusicNet and Rhapsody. Perfect Pitch will be responsible for marketing the artists and their music including possible Australian tours in conjunction with Flying Fish Touring. Exciting Nigerian artists covered by the agreement, most in the urban, hip hop, r 'n b and reggae genres, include Agustine (‘Blackface) Ahmedu – founder of the renowned Plantashun Boiz - Azadus, Eedris Abdul Kareem (a.k.a. Eddy Remedy), Majek Fashek, Lord Of Ajasa, Sunny Neji, Rugged Man and Styl-Plus. Negotiations are also underway to have recent MTV Europe African Artist of the Year, 2Face Idibia (another former member of Plantashun Boiz), join this formidable collection of musicians.
Blue Pie CEO Damien Reilly pictured in his office.
A compilation CD of this sensational new music will be released online as part of Blue Pie's Hurricane Healing project assisting the Salvation Army in its bid to bring relief to victims of 2005's horrendous hurricane season in the U.S.
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