Book Review: A Very Good Bad Guy Is A Very Bad 2face Narrative

If like me, you are an age long 2face
fan, you must have received news of the forthcoming “biography” with great
expectations. When the “editor’ now happens to be the astute Adekunle Ayeni,
the excitement must have been palpable. 2face Idibia has long ceased to be
merely a popular artiste; his brand has become the definition of a generation.
His story has been told over and over again, but an official biography of his
life both as an individual and an artiste remained an uncharted course for
neither writers nor the man himself.
Again, I have followed the career of
a certain Ayeni The Great for nearly two decades now. As a young person in the
second tier city of Ibadan, I would faithfully buy copies of HipHop World
Magazine, Encomium, Bubbles (which I would later have the privilege of editing)
and all newspapers that profiled Nigerian entertainment and entertainers.
Ayeni’s life story has inspired me to no end. He was an outsider kid from the
back waters of Okokomaiko who had huge dreams and with lots of hard work, made
himself into a journalist, publicist, public relations consultant and later
himself, a newspaper publisher. Apart from a couple of other individuals whose
name I would mention later on, no other writer qualified as much as Ayeni to
write a book on the iconic 2face. I- and millions of fans waited with baited
breaths for the most anticipated book since Chimamanda Adichie.
The first time it crossed my mind
that this might be a disappointing book was when the book cover was realeased
by Adekunle Ayeni’s publishing house The NET. I tweeted on September 14 thus: Looking forward to the 2face book. Only wish
that another photo was used on the cover. Wasn’t that the cover art for The Unstoppable
album?
Indeed it was the same photo used in
2010 for 2face’s third album. When I whispered this concern to some friends the
explanation was that since the title of the book, A Very Good Bad Guy was an oxymoron that juxtaposes 2face’s good
and bad sides, the cover art works well for that purpose.
So I ordered the book after the book
launch was over and done with. It arrived in the post yesterday November 4. As
I ripped open the polythene wrapper, a sinking feeling of disappointment struck
me like a punch. From a production stand point; this book was already a mess.
The very first page when you flip the cover open has this badly reproduced
photograph of 2face, ostensibly taken with a camera phone in one corner of The
NET office. Not only is it out of place on the inner sheet of a book, together
with the tackiness of the lamination and the substandard print quality that
persists from start to finish, the book feels like an Alaba CD jacket: cheap
and unworthy of the artiste on it. Alas, my disappointment was just starting.
For starters, this is not a story of
2face as sold by the publisher; rather it is a collection of articles about
2face since Ayeni’s own days as a reporter. How dare he now call this a
biography! The prologue proved to be the most interesting part of the whole
book. In it, Ayeni recounts a night in 2007 when he and 2face shared a bed
after an awards show in London. The cheeky double entendre promised much of the
book but soon fell flat as soon as the prologue ended. Even Annie Idibia’s
piece which is neither a dedication nor provides any perspective of her husband
leave much to be desired. It reads like a birthday tribute that was sent to the
editor of this book by BlackBerry Messenger or Whatsapp. How do I know this?
Wrongly placed full stops, unnecessary ellipses and exclamation marks, as well
as a “LOL” tell that much. A 2face book requires an Annie Idibia voice. This
flimsy bit does not provide that.
Permit me to digress for a minute:
Adekunle Ayeni has transitioned his journalistic experience into a thriving
public relations practice. Safe to say, he has mastered the dark arts required
of a PR guru and he deploys his craft well in the making of this book. Nowhere
in the book does he directly refer to it as a “biography”. However, press
releases from his organization and reportage of the launch in the media all
describe A Very Good Bad Guy as the
biography of Innocent 2face Idibia. Smart move, Mr Ayeni…
Now I’ve read a few music biographies
in my time. Carlos Moore wrote a Fela biography, Fela: This Bitch of a Life and it was based on conversations with
Abami Eda. I Would Die 4 U was
written by Toure, an American journalist and pop culture expert. The book
features several interviews about and with pop legend Prince, and provides readers
an assessment of the enigma’s life. Becoming
Beyonce
by J. Randy Taraborelli was recently released as an unofficial
biography of the artiste. It delivers as it tells several unheard stories about
Beyonce. A Very Good Bad Guy does no such thing.
A biography should delve into
previously unknown areas and tell an unforgettable story. It should take
readers away from blog posts, rumours and innuendos and research the
backstories that make the subject tick. It should document the subject’s views,
influences, fears, ambition and every facet of his life. A Very Good Bad Guy comes across as a rushed vanity project rather
than the life story of an individual who the publisher rightly describes as
“Nigeria’s greatest pop artiste of all time”.

The travails of Fela Anikulapo Kuti
happened nearly a decade before I was born. Yet Carlos Moore’s book made me
rage at the injustice meted out to the man and his mother. A Very Good Bad Guy does not even come close. Heartbreakingly, it
is not for lack of talent or wherewithal to do a 2face story properly.

Ayeni’s double advantage as an
entertainment journalist and one time publicist for 2face puts him at a vantage
position to pen a biography worth his salt. Over the years, the writer has
proven himself to be a master storyteller. Does anyone remember his exclusive
interview with Dbanj immediately after the Mohits breakup? That was a classic
piece of writing.
Neither can the shoddiness of A Very Good Bad Guy be blamed on a
lack of curiosity: in page xxvi of the prologue Ayeni himself wonders, “What
kind of guy is this Idibia? What sublime irony to find a man, who does all the
bad things, yet does all the good things…? As an observer I was fascinated
and impressed…” So why did Ayeni neglect to ask these questions and answer them
for the fans?
Perhaps it is the hubris that
sometimes plagues heroes and geniuses that convinced the editor/publisher that
he could pass off these 396 pages of nothingness as a biography.

A writer has a responsibility to
document times and happenings correctly. He owes it to the reader to either
answer all his questions or allow the reader to deduce answers from his
writing. In 2024, children who were born in the year 2face released his debut
album would be university undergraduates and some of them would study the
defining era of Nigerian music. They would need to understand why it was such a
big deal for 2face to have won the Best African Act at the 2006 MTV EMA’s. They
would need to understand how big a deal it is for a Nigerian to have made the
soundtrack for a Hollywood movie. They would need to find out how a single
artiste swung the door open for a generation of African artistes to reach the
world. They would need an authoritative voice to teach them about the great
2face. A Very Good Bad Guy through Ayeni
Adekunle does not offer that; rather it is a catalogue of past articles, a
gloried scrapbook of The NET Newspaper. Maybe that was why even 2face look less
than enthused at the book launch.

The man 2face could commission a
writer to tag along with him for a couple of months to gather enough material
for a proper biography, if Mr. Ayeni is too busy to. Bayo Omisore and Efe
Omorogbe are the other two individuals who have unique perspectives of the
artiste. (Fortunately both men are also excellent writers with commendable
journalism credentials).
A Very Good Bad Guy feels like a scam. Personally I feel defrauded. The hollowness of
Adekunle Ayeni’s book on 2face does a great disservice to the artistry and
accomplishment of the subject. It does greater disservice to the skill and
talent of the two dozen writers whose contributions to The NET Newspaper form
this book. It does the greatest disservice to Mr. Adekunle Ayeni’s two decades
of journalistic excellence and his highly esteemed position as a custodian of
urban Nigerian music. Innocent 2face Idibia requires an official biography.
This book is not it.

Jide Taiwo is a media practitioner based in Lagos. He’s in the process of
finishing his own book, Reflections of a Millennial. He tweets via
@thejidetaiwo.

2Face Idibia’s Biography Set For Public Presentation

The ‘i’s have been dotted, the ‘t’s crossed, the biography of African music legend, 2face Idibia titled, ‘A Very Good Bad Guy: The Story of Innocent ‘2face’ is finally set for public presentation. The event has been scheduled to hold on Tuesday October 20, 2015 at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island in Lagos.
The 460-paged book will contain a wide range of materials on Idibia’s life and times, including accounts from his mother, his wife, siblings, colleagues and mentors. It will also contain selected lyrics and discography, as well as editorial materials dating as far back as 2005.
The biography, done in commemoration of the singer’s 40th birthday, is a first-of-its-kind for any pop star in Idibia’s category, and the first by any contemporary Nigerian media platform. Fully funded and edited by NET News, owners of Newsroom, THENETNG, Orin, NECLive and Star, the biography is part of the NET Book Series, a dedicated project to document an important era in Nigeria’s creative industry.

‘It’s the first of many’, NET publisher and Idibia’s former publicist Ayeni Adekunle says.

Already confirmed for Idibia’s book launch are the duo of Tee A and Ali Baba who will serve as event host and book reviewer respectively.
The event will also feature a live conversation between book editor Ayeni Adekunle and 2face Idibia.
In an emotional tribute to be featured in the book, Idibia’s wife Annie writes ‘Innocent is an extraordinary being. I remember when we were so young. He was 24, I was 15. And I still see the same man when I look at him…’

Journalist Olumide Iyanda who pens the foreword says of the singer: ‘…he never rose to a level he could not sustain. Many have come and gone since year 2000. But 2face is still setting an agenda for what and entertainer should look and sound like.  He is proof that patience and true love pays.’

The man who gave him his first gig, Edi Lawani describes 2face as a ‘multi-dimensional man whose life defies definite analysis.  He is an immensely blessed person, almost unfairly gifted…’

And confirming the character trait many already attest to, his manager Efe Omorogbe says ‘he’s never said something to me that I found to be untrue.  People often suggest that he is gullible and easy to manipulate. But they have no clue. It’s hard to get him to do what he isn’t sold on- make no mistake; the frail-looking, happy-go-lucky, ‘unserious’ guy can be tough as nails when he chooses to be…’
Idibia himself, in a rare interview published in the book says  ‘I come from a poor background. Poor in the sense of money, not in spirit…’
The 2face Idibia biography is the second instalment in NET’s Book Series, following the publication of Chris Ihidero’s ‘Wanderings of a Rapidly Degenerating Mind’ earlier this year. The book project is projected to replace the company’s weekly print newspaper which has in recent times been epileptic and is already scheduled to go off the stands later this month.

2face Idibia At 40: A Very Good Bad Guy


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2face Idibia is 40 already??? Wowza! The African music icon will be a year older on September 18. And as part of the celebrations, Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET) will be unveiling the singer’s biography, titled ‘A Very Good Bad guy: The Story Of Innocent 2Face Idibia.’

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The book which was edited by veteran journalist and 2face’s former publicist Ayeni Adekunle will contain detailed interview with 2face, 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.
Speaking about the project, 2Face himself said,  ‘It’s a really good feeling knowing that all these years that

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I’ve been surviving in this industry, someone has been taking note you know…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.’

 ‘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 recognition he deserves on the occasion of his 40th birthday. 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’. Ayeni Adekunle noted.

Ayeni Adekunle, Tolu Ogunlesi, Linda Ikeji, Toolz, 6 others make Y!Naija's Most Powerful People in Media list

From the sweet, talented and beautiful OAPs to the hardworking and widely-acclaimed journalists and writers, here’s YNaija list of 10 Most Powerful People in Media under the age of 40. These are people who have not only made their own space in their fields but have and are still inspiring others to succeed.
Alex Okosi
Okosi is the Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa. As an executive, he made his mark by bringing by bringing the urban-music themed MTV Base music channel to Africa back in 2005. It was perfect timing; African music was at the cusp of a renaissance and the presence of MTV Base on the TV screens led to an explosion of quality visuals and great video content from artists. Okosi was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and his influence in entertainment circles is undeniable. Only recently, Nigerian radio OAPs were nominated for honours at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards and they probably have Mr Okosi to thank for it.
 
Ayeni Adekunle
Ayeni The Great started his career as a journalist working for the likes of Enconium and Vanguard but has evolved to become one of the most important media men this side of the Atlantic. His Black House Media group has worked with a range of important clients from Nigerian Idol and Nigerian Breweries to superstars D’banj and Ice Prince and he publishes Nigeria’s biggest entertainment website The NETng as well its weekly newspaper equivalent. In 2013, he convened the Nigerian entertainment conference that attracted the movers and shakers of the entertainment industry and business world, sparking dialogue and creating networking links.
 
Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi
No one has a presence on radio quite like Gbemi. Sweet, sassy and slighty tart, she has been working on the radio for over eight years and has quietly built a formidable fan base and listenership that has followed her from her days at Cool FM to her present gig at Beat FM where she hosts the Drive Time Show in the evening. A graduate of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, Gbemi has also risen through the ranks to become head of programming at Beat FM’s sister station Naija FM. She is currently working on her upcoming television show.
 
Linda Ikeji
Everybody visits Linda Ikeji’s all powerful blog. It’s futile trying to deny, the Alexa rankings state otherwise. The blog has become the one stop shop for gossip, heart to heart dialogue, the occasional political commentary and yes, breaking news. Even the federal government is not unaware of the power of her platform, tipping her as one of the media partners for its centenary celebrations. She may do battle with a celebrity or two, but even they would agree that the publicity she offers is pretty much unparalleled. She generates millions in advertising but still manages to retain that girl next door persona.
 
Maupe Ogun
The television presenter and co-host of Channels television’s must-watch breakfast magazine Sunrise daily may be the only woman in the room most of the time, but she has managed to come across as one of the smartest. And articulate. And fearless. Always compulsively watchable, with her probing and unflinching questions, many an unprepared guest have been known to shrivel under her piercing gaze. Educated at the University of Lagos and the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, Ogun participated in president Obama’s town hall meeting with young Africans.
 
Mfonobong Nsehe
Nsehe’s prolific work with Forbes magazine Africa and Ventures Africa has resulted in the eventual recognition of previously under the radar Folashade Alakija as one of the richest people on the planet. As a staff writer with Forbes Africa, Nsehe’s brief is to profile Africa’s success stories and chronicle the lives of its rich and famous. Shunning the hype and the gloss, the Akwa Ibom-born journalist and blogger goes in to uncover the real picture.
 
Tolu Ogunlesi
Tolu is a two-time winner of the CNN/Multichoice African journalist of the Year, most recently in 2013 when he won in the Economic and Business category for his reporting on Eko Atlantic City. Ogunlesi once worked as a features editor for the defunct NEXT newspapers and his writing has appeared in various international media like The Huffington Post, CNN, UK Guardian and The Economist. He runs a weekly column on The Punch, Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper.
 
 
Toolz
Tolu ‘Toolz’ Oniru may get plenty of notice for her stunning physique but she has proved there is more to her than meets the eye. Bodacious, beautiful and brainy, she has parlayed her OAP duties on Beat FM into a position of power, being able to fast track or stall careers with her choice of playlist. Her other gig on the Guaranty Trust Bank sponsored Ndani TV is about to commence its second season and the accolades pouring in for that stint thanks to the probing-yet-breezy comradarie she exudes while interviewing her guests. Those skills translate from the radio to the small screen and her performance on the debut season of the X-factor Nigeria is sure to net her next year’s deal. Is there anything that Toolz cannot fix?
 
Toyosi Ogunseye
Ogunseye became one of the youngest editors of a major newspaper when she was promoted to editor of the Sunday Punch. She may be tasked with preparing the weekly but she still finds time to churn out powerful features like her three-part piece on the impact of gases released by a steel company on an upscale estate in Lagos state which won her a second CNN/Multichoice African journalist of the Year trophy, this time in the Environment category.
 
Uche Pedro
The now married founder of BellaNaija, the most popular lifestyle/entertainment website in the country has overseen the growth of BellaNaija from a single girl’s blog to mentions by Oprah Winfrey, CNN and a permanent home on internet web traffic assessor Alexa’s top 40 listings. Quiet, unassuming and loath to step out in public glare, Uche Pedro wields a lot of power as her site has been known to dictate the latest fashion trends, attract advertising mega bucks and corner the market on wedding photography.
Credit: Ynaija.com
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