Nigerian comedian and media personality, Helen Paul has revealed that she was the voice behind one of the most recognisable openings in Nigerian pop music history, the “Uncle, please tell us a story” line that introduces P-Square’s classic 2005 hit Story, disclosing that she was never paid for the recording despite the song going on to become a household anthem.

Speaking during a recent podcast interview, Helen Paul explained that her involvement went beyond that single opening line, revealing she also recorded the various “Thank you” responses heard throughout the track by repeatedly altering her voice to sound like different children speaking. She said the technique involved matching multiple distinct child voices so that the final recording sounded full and layered, a skill she credited to her natural talent for voice imitation rather than any formal training at the time.

According to the comedian, the recording took place years before either she or the award winning duo of Paul and Peter Okoye had become household names in the Nigerian entertainment industry. She was working as a studio receptionist earning a modest monthly salary when the opportunity arose, stepping in after the children originally expected to voice the song’s intro failed to show up for the session.

Not fully understanding the industry at the time, she said she went ahead and recorded the parts without any formal agreement covering payment or credit, and by the time the song became a nationwide sensation, she had no framework for asserting ownership over her contribution.

Helen Paul’s revelation has struck a chord with many Nigerians who grew up in the 2000s and had long wondered whose voice lay behind the song’s unforgettable intro, while also reigniting broader conversations within the industry around fair compensation, credit and the protection of creative professionals, particularly those who contribute to major commercial hits early in their careers before understanding the value of formal contracts.

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