Annie Macaulay Declares Single Status at Headies 2025, Officially Drops ‘Idibia’

Annie Macaulay Declares Single Status at Headies 2025, Officially Drops ‘Idibia’

Nollywood actress and model Annie Macaulay made headlines at the 17th Headies Awards when she confidently introduced herself by her maiden name, officially confirming her split from music icon Innocent “2Baba” Idibia.

Presenting the award for Best Afrobeats Singer alongside Farooq Oreagba—the charismatic figure from Ojude Oba 2024—Annie’s brief yet pointed introduction sparked a wave of online conversations. Mid-sentence, she caught herself from saying “Annie Idibia” and corrected it with a smile:
“My name is Annie Idi—oh sorry, Annie Macaulay. Hey, single ladies!”

Her words were met with loud cheers from the crowd at the Landmark Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos, during the Headies’ grand return to Nigeria after two years in the U.S.

This moment follows months of quiet speculation after 2Baba publicly announced their separation in January 2025, ending a 12-year marriage that had become one of Nigeria’s most followed celebrity unions.

A High-Profile Breakup

2Baba, now 49, stunned fans when he shared news of the split on Instagram, revealing he had moved on with Edo State lawmaker Natasha Osawaru. Just over two weeks later, he proposed to Osawaru on the eve of Valentine’s Day.

In March, Osawaru appeared in a family video alongside 2Baba and his mother, Rose Idibia, signaling a shift in the family’s earlier resistance. This came after Mrs. Idibia’s emotional plea in February asking Natasha to “leave her son alone” and claiming 2Baba was “not in his right senses”—an episode that coincided with a brief scare when the singer was declared missing by his family.

Amid all the drama, Natasha updated her Instagram bio to reflect 2Baba’s last name, sparking rumours that a traditional wedding may have quietly taken place.

Annie’s New Chapter

Meanwhile, Annie has been reclaiming her space. After a short break from social media, she returned in March with a clean slate—deleting old posts and updating her handle to Annie Uwana Macaulay.

Speaking to BBC Pidgin on the red carpet at the Headies, the 40-year-old actress said she’s focusing on her daughters and a new chapter in media. She teased an upcoming project titled Annie Macaulay TV, marking a fresh start in her career.

Annie and 2Baba’s love story began in 1999 and was immortalized when she starred in his classic “African Queen” video in 2004. They got engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2012 and tied the knot in a lavish Dubai ceremony in March 2013. The couple has two daughters—Isabella and Olivia.

Despite a vow renewal in 2022, their relationship weathered constant media scrutiny, especially due to 2Baba’s complicated past with Pero Adeniyi, the mother of three of his children.

Now, as both Annie and 2Baba move forward separately, fans are watching closely—but Annie seems determined to take the next step on her own terms.