During an interview with Adesola on the Afrobeats Podcast, Nigerian artist Innocent Idibia, better known by his stage as 2Baba, was overcome with emotion when talking about his late buddy, Sound Sultan.
When asked how Sound Sultan’s passing had affected him, 2Baba found it difficult to put his sentiments into words. He was speechless for a short while as a result of the intensity of the emotional experience, underscoring the close relationship and connection he had with the late singer.
“Sultan, ” he said. I’m not sure…If I may use the term, he was among the best. He was among the “goodest” people you could ever meet.
Tuface (2Baba) expressed that the passing of Sound Sultan had a profound impact on him. He revealed that it took him considerable time to come to terms with the reality of Sound Sultan’s death. Reflecting on his initial reaction, Tuface shared that he couldn’t believe the news when he first heard it, almost treating it like a joke due to his disbelief.
Tuface also disclosed that Sound Sultan’s battle with cancer was not immediately identified. He mentioned that Sound Sultan had a delayed diagnosis of his illness and that initially, the symptoms were misdiagnosed as malaria after undergoing tests in the country.
He said, “For a long time, I did not accept that fact, it was like a joke. The diagnosis was late, he did tests in Nigeria, We thought it was malaria but I don’t want to get into all that.” He refused to say more after that.
Sound Sultan’s unfortunate passing occurred on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at the age of 44 due to his battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. The news of his death deeply affected the Nigerian community, as Sound Sultan was a well-respected and beloved figure within the music industry and beyond.
Despite the passage of two years since his demise, it’s evident that the impact of Sound Sultan’s loss continues to deeply resonate with his close friend Tuface. The emotions and memories associated with a dear friend’s passing can remain strong and enduring, especially when the friendship was as close and significant as the one shared between Tuface and Sound Sultan.
Watch Him Speak Below: