Tuface Idibia @ 40: Marriage not as scary as people say

 

Pop icon, Tuface Idibia, who clocks 40 on September 18, has de­clared that the best decision of his career was tying the knot with his heartthrob of many years, Annie Idibia, whom he married on March 23, 2013.
In an exclusive chat with Entertainer, Tuface, who has wrapped up plans for a superlative celebration of his 40 years on mother earth disclosed thus: “The decision to stick to music is one of my best de­cisions but getting married to my wife, Annie is the best decision I have ever made. Also, going solo in 2004 was another best decision of my life.”
Three years after, how is he enjoying the institution of marriage?
A smile creases his features and his eyes lit up as he responds: “It’s not been easy-o but at the same time, it’s not as scary as people make it look. However, mar­riage is not a walk through the park; it’s not a tea party.
“Marriage also is not only about enjoyment always. Just like roses have thorns, you must learn to give and take because marriage is just like work. What you put in is what you get but it becomes hell when you are married to someone and you both don’t understand yourselves.”
Commenting on what attracted him to his wife whom he stared dating way back in the late 1990s, Tuface continues: “Her personality really matters to me a lot. She is hard working, very friendly and beautiful and all these qualities joined together just blew my mind.”
While Tuface is always on tour, Annie is an actress with a very tight schedule, how do they find time to spend together you may ask? Tuface says the basic truth is that time must be created for a marriage to work hence so they time out hang out, go shopping and do things husbands and wives do.
All may be rosy on the surface but Tuface admits that like every other marriage, sometimes he and Annie do have spats. When this happens, who apologises first?
“It depends on who caused the fight,” Tuface con­tinues beaming with a smile, “sometimes I look for trouble and still wait for her to apologise and at other times she’s at fault and still wants me to apologise. But most of the time I’m the person that apologises first because you know women and their Wahala,” he says with a soft laugh.
Forty years after, when he looks back, is there any­thing he wishes he could have done differently?
“I’m not one that likes to regret. I feel that whatever happens has happened. The only thing I think is how to blend and turn things around positively. I don’t just sit down, fold my hands and regret. Instead I re-adjust and re-align and forge ahead.”
Today having done over 100 collabos with up-and-coming acts and still counting, Tuface no doubt has a legion of sons and daughters breaking new grounds in the music scene. What is his take on contemporary Nigerians music?
“We’re actually there because now we have good quality. Our sound has improved in terms of tech­niques, sounds and quality because now, many people pay attention to music and the young guys are really working hard and they are following in the footsteps laid down for them already. I’m really proud of these young ones.”
Dreams
With his achievements one would think that Tuface has achieved his dreams. But no, the reverse is the case. Tubaba as he’s popularly called says he is still hungry for new conquests.
“I’m somewhere now but not exactly the place or position I want. I thank God that we’ve moved from where we started almost 20 years ago but I still want to go far. I have not fulfilled my dreams and goals yet; I’m still hungry to achieve other things as a business man and not just as a musician because there are so many things I still want to achieve.”