Baba Fryo: Why Fame Broke 2Baba & Annie’s Marriage

Veteran Nigerian musician Friday Igweh, popularly known as Baba Fryo, has weighed in on the recent separation between iconic singer Innocent ‘2Baba’ Idibia and his wife of 12 years, Annie Macaulay.

Baba Fryo also shared his thoughts on 2Baba’s emerging relationship with Natasha Osawaru, a current member of the Edo State House of Assembly.

In January, PREMIUM TIMES reported that 2Baba officially announced his split from Annie. Just weeks later, in February, he proposed to Ms. Osawaru, drawing widespread attention and sparking heated debates across social media platforms.

Since the news broke, both the end of 2Baba’s marriage and his new relationship with the Edo lawmaker have continued to stir public reaction and fuel conversations among fans and the media alike.

Appearing on The Honest Bunch podcast, veteran singer Baba Fryo offered a candid perspective on the collapse of 2Baba and Annie Idibia’s marriage, adding new layers to the ongoing conversation.

The “Dem Go Dey Pose” crooner emphasized the unique dynamic in celebrity unions, noting that mutual understanding should naturally exist when both partners are in the spotlight. “When a man marries a fellow celebrity, there’s already an awareness of each other’s professional demands,” he said. “The woman understands the nature of his work, just as he does hers. So when certain things happen, she’s more likely to grasp where he’s coming from.”

His remarks sparked reflection among listeners, deepening the dialogue around the complexities of high-profile relationships.

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Baba Fryo continued the conversation by highlighting the role mutual understanding plays in a relationship, especially when one partner is not in the entertainment industry. “When a woman isn’t a celebrity, she might struggle to fully grasp the realities of her partner’s lifestyle,” he said.

Using fellow artists Adekunle Gold and Simi as an example, he praised their ability to align with each other’s routines and professional demands. “They knew each other’s movements and built understanding around that,” he noted. “But when I reflect on my friend and brother 2Baba and his wife Annie—who’s also a celebrity—I feel they didn’t manage their relationship well.”

The singer also underscored the importance of emotional stability in a man’s life, stressing that peace of mind should be at the core of any relationship. “Every man needs a woman who brings him peace,” he said, adding that nurturing and caring for a husband is, in his view, a key part of a woman’s role in marriage.

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Speaking further on The Honest Bunch podcast, Baba Fryo delved deeper into his thoughts on the dynamics between 2Baba and Annie Idibia, drawing on personal experience and societal observation to support his views.

“Annie is an actress and 2Baba is a musician — both living public lives. Let’s look at it this way,” he said. “In a marriage, especially when out in social settings, the woman often plays a stabilizing role. If her husband overindulges, she should be there to guide him and keep things in check. But if both partners are known to drink heavily or lose control, it becomes a problem — no one is in charge, and that can lead to public embarrassment.”

Baba Fryo suggested that when a man observes behavior in his partner that causes him emotional unrest, it may plant seeds of doubt and insecurity. “If he then meets someone else—someone more composed, with different values—it might influence his decisions,” he said.

He went on to reveal a personal connection to 2Baba’s new partner, Natasha Osawaru. “I’ve known Natasha since she was a toddler. Her father was my close friend, and I used to carry her on my lap,” he said, making it clear, however, that he could not speak to her character as an adult.

Still, Baba Fryo speculated that 2Baba may have found in Natasha something he felt was missing in his relationship with Annie. “Maybe she gave him the peace of mind he no longer felt with Annie. A man can’t flourish if he’s constantly unsettled mentally,” he noted. “It’s not about 2Baba being done with music — it’s that his head might be too full to create right now.”

He concluded by reflecting on the broader reality for celebrities, suggesting that many opt to stay single to avoid the emotional complexities that come with fame and relationships. “2Baba and Annie struggled together before wealth entered the picture. But with money comes pressure. And if a woman isn’t able to stay grounded, things can spiral. I’m not judging Annie — I wasn’t in their marriage — but these are just the realities some of us have seen.”

On Infidelity and Cultural Expectations

During the conversation, Baba Fryo offered a controversial take on the subject of infidelity in relationships, particularly from an African cultural standpoint. According to him, it’s rarely just a case of cheating that leads men to walk away from their marriages or long-term relationships — often, it’s deeper emotional or compatibility issues.

“Most men don’t leave simply because a woman was unfaithful,” he said. “There are usually underlying problems that have built up over time.”

He went on to frame his perspective within traditional African norms. “In our culture, the concept of men cheating doesn’t really exist. Traditionally, a man is allowed to marry more than one wife — that’s accepted. But the same doesn’t apply to women.”

Baba Fryo also reflected on the expectations many men carry into marriage, shaped by the investments — both financial and emotional — they make during courtship. “Before a man marries, he often goes through a lot more than just buying flowers. He invests heavily. So it’s not unusual for him to feel like the head of the home, even to the point of seeing himself as lord over the woman. That’s just how society has shaped it.”