Helen Paul Reveals She Voiced P-Square’s Iconic ‘Story’ Intro But Was Never Paid

• Nigerian comedian and actress Helen Paul has revealed that she was the voice behind the unforgettable opening line of P-Square’s hit song Story — “Uncle, please tell us a story” — but says she was never paid or credited for her contribution.

Popular Nigerian comedian, actress and media personality, Helen Paul, has disclosed that she was the voice behind the iconic opening line of P-Square’s classic hit Story, revealing that she never received payment or recognition for her contribution.

Speaking during a recent interview, Helen Paul said she recorded the famous line, “Uncle, please tell us a story,” as well as the multiple “Thank you” responses heard throughout the song by altering her voice to sound like different children.

“I did the ‘Uncle, please tell us a story.’ Then I also did the ‘Thank you’ parts using different voices,” she recalled.

“They matched all the different children’s voices so it sounded full.”

The entertainer explained that the recording happened years before both she and the now-defunct music duo P-Square rose to national fame.

At the time, she was working as a receptionist at a recording studio, earning a monthly salary of ₦9,500.

According to Helen Paul, P-Square had initially planned to use actual children for the voice parts, but when that failed, someone at the studio suggested she could imitate children’s voices.

“I didn’t even know what range was,” she said. “I was just very good at imitating voices.”

She said she gladly accepted the opportunity despite being informed that there was little or no money attached to the job because she was simply excited to be involved in a recording session.

Looking back, Helen Paul admitted she never imagined P-Square would go on to become one of Africa’s biggest music groups.

“I didn’t know P-Square. I didn’t even know they were going to blow,” she said.

She also revealed that when Story became a massive hit, she did not know voice actors could negotiate contracts, demand proper payment or receive screen credits.

“I didn’t fight for it. I’m quiet about myself,” she said.

Rather than dwell on the missed opportunity, Helen Paul said she chose not to become bitter, believing God redirected her focus toward greater opportunities.

VIDEO

"The voice on P Square's song 'Story', "Uncle please tell us a story" was me and p square never paid me for it. I also did the "Thank You" part using different voices. Then I never knew P Square, I never knew they were going to be this famous."

– Helen Paul pic.twitter.com/ZrMoNQHIzG— Rhapsody (@Rhapxodyy) July 23, 2026

According to her, another breakthrough soon came when a child scheduled to record a commercial became unavailable due to school examinations.

She was again asked to imitate a child’s voice, and the recording opened the door to numerous advertising voice-over jobs.

Helen Paul recalled that comedian Ayo Makun (AY) later brought her paperwork to sign, although she admitted she barely understood the contracts at the time.

Her career quickly took off, with her monthly earnings rising dramatically from ₦9,500 as a studio receptionist to between ₦400,000 and ₦450,000 from voice-over projects around 2014 and 2015.

Despite the financial success, she said she remained humble and struggled to adjust to earning such large amounts, often keeping her cheques safely while still collecting money for daily feeding from people around her.

Today, Helen Paul is one of Nigeria’s most accomplished entertainers, having built successful careers in comedy, radio, television and acting.

Known for her signature childlike “Tatafo” voice, she has also distinguished herself academically and now holds the title of Professor of Theatre Arts, making her one of the few Nigerian entertainers to combine mainstream success with an academic career.

Her revelation has since sparked conversations on social media about how many creative professionals in Nigeria’s entertainment industry worked on iconic projects without proper contracts, royalties or recognition during the industry’s early years.

Although Helen Paul did not accuse P-Square of deliberately exploiting her, her story offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the making of one of Nigeria’s most memorable songs and finally answers the long-standing question of who voiced the famous line: “Uncle, please tell us a story.”