Nigerian music legend Innocent Idibia, widely known as 2face or 2baba, has become the center of a family drama that has captivated social media audiences nationwide. His fiancée, Honorable Natasha Osawaru, an Edo State lawmaker, has finally broken her silence regarding accusations that she placed traditional beads with mystical properties on the iconic singer.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with journalist Stella Dimoko Korkus, Osawaru emphatically denied allegations of using supernatural means to control the artist. I didn’t wear him the beads, he saw it and liked it,” she stated, addressing rumors that have swirled across Nigerian entertainment circles since news of their engagement broke.
The controversy erupted last month when Rose Idibia, 2face’s mother, made an impassioned public plea to Osawaru. In a widely circulated video, she begged the lawmaker to “remove the beads she kept on her son’s hands and neck and free him.” The elder Idibia expressed concern that her son, currently navigating divorce proceedings from his estranged wife Annie Idibia, was not in his “right senses” and implied the beads held mystical significance.
Tensions escalated further when reports emerged that the singer’s family had filed a petition with the Department of State Services (DSS), claiming the legendary performer had gone missing and was last seen in loungewear. This unusual step highlighted the family’s growing alarm about the relationship.
Osawaru, however, offered a completely different narrative about the controversial accessories. She explained that the beads hold significant cultural and family heritage rather than any diabolical purpose. Those beads were given to me on my birthday; they represent a Princess from a Royal family; you know I am from the Igbinedion Royal Family,” she revealed to Stella Dimoko Korkus.
The 29-year-old lawmaker elaborated on the specific meaning behind the traditional adornments. On my last Birthday, my mum gave me three nice beads, they called them ‘EZENEKA’ which means a River that never runs dry.” This explanation highlights the cultural significance of the items within Edo traditional contexts, where beads often signify royalty, status, and spiritual protection.
Perhaps most intriguing was Osawaru’s revelation about the pearl necklace that 2face has been photographed wearing. The pearl on his neck was given to me by my grandad, the queen of England gave it to him when she was alive,” she stated, adding that her grandfather was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II. This international provenance adds another layer to what had been characterized as traditional African spiritual items.
The young politician firmly rejected any supernatural connotations attached to the jewelry. “They are just traditional beads; he liked them and wore them; there is nothing to them, and they are not diabolical and do not also contain juju,” she insisted. Osawaru further noted that 2face “likes beads a lot and has been wearing several before now,” suggesting his decision to wear these particular items aligned with his established aesthetic preferences rather than resulting from manipulation.
The controversy occurs against the backdrop of 2face’s separation from Annie Idibia, a relationship that has frequently made headlines over the years. The couple’s marital challenges have played out publicly on social media platforms and reality television, creating a narrative framework through which many fans interpret the singer’s new relationship.
Cultural context adds significant dimension to this unfolding story. In many Nigerian traditions, beads carry profound symbolic meaning beyond mere adornment. They can represent status, spiritual protection, cultural identity, and family lineage. However, they can also be associated with traditional spiritual practices in some contexts, which likely contributed to the interpretations offered by concerned family members.
Osawaru, who entered the Edo State Assembly at age 28, also addressed separate allegations regarding her energetic public persona. When questioned about rumors that she “takes something to get high,” she attributed her vibrant demeanor to youth and natural disposition. When people see people with that kind of energy, what do you want them to say?” she asked rhetorically, dismissing the allegations.
The lawmaker revealed she personally maintains no social media presence, claiming to be disconnected from the online discourse about her relationship. I don’t even have an Instagram account, so I don’t get to see or read all these allegations,” she stated, explaining that accounts bearing her name are managed by her team. I am focusing on my career, and I am blazing on it, and that’s all I care about,” she added, projecting confidence despite the public scrutiny.
Entertainment analysts suggest this controversy illustrates the delicate intersection between traditional values and contemporary celebrity culture in Nigeria. The public’s fascination with the private lives of celebrities, particularly when elements of traditional culture enter the narrative, creates a uniquely Nigerian form of celebrity gossip that incorporates cultural anxieties and traditional beliefs.
For 2face, a pioneer of modern Nigerian pop music whose career spans over two decades, this latest personal chapter adds to a complex public narrative that has included previous relationship controversies, health challenges, and political activism. His enduring popularity ensures that developments in his personal life continue to captivate public attention across generations of music fans.
The beads controversy also highlights the continuing significance of traditional beliefs within contemporary Nigerian society, where modern lifestyles frequently coexist with traditional worldviews. The family’s concerns, while dismissed by Osawaru as misinterpretations, reflect broader cultural patterns in which traditional items can be viewed through multiple interpretive lenses simultaneously.
As the situation continues to unfold, the intersection of celebrity culture, traditional values, and family dynamics offers a quintessentially Nigerian tabloid narrative. For now, Osawaru maintains that the relationship is based on genuine affection rather than supernatural influence, while the singer himself has yet to offer public comment on the family controversy surrounding his choice of accessories.
Whether the explanation provided by Osawaru will satisfy concerned family members remains to be seen, but her decision to address the allegations directly represents a significant development in what has become one of Nigerian entertainment’s most discussed current controversies.
