Yvonne Jegede Reveals She Almost Turned Down Iconic Role in 2Baba’s "African Queen" Video

Nollywood actress Yvonne Jegede has revealed that she almost missed out on one of the most iconic moments in Nigerian music video history — her appearance in 2Baba’s timeless hit “African Queen.”

In a recent sit-down on the Nollywood on Radio podcast, the actress shared how the opportunity came unexpectedly, and why she initially declined the offer to feature in the music video.

“When the director of African Queen first called, I bluntly just said, ‘No, I am not interested,’” she recalled.
“I didn’t know who 2Baba was at the time as a solo artist. I hadn’t heard African Queen. I wasn’t even interested in being a video vixen—I just wanted to act.”

Yvonne admitted that it was a friend's enthusiasm for the song that eventually convinced her to give it a second thought. She later called the director, got the shoot details, prepped her hair, and showed up on set the next morning—where she met 2Baba for the very first time.

“I saw that legend, and I was like, ‘Oh, so this is real.’”

Despite the song’s success and the timeless impact of the video, Jegede stood firm in her desire to pursue acting, not music videos. She later featured in Djinee’s “Ego”—again, as a favour to a friend. She also revealed she nearly made it into Styl Plus’ "Olufunmi" but missed the shoot due to Lagos traffic.

🔎 Opinion: A Near Miss That Became a Career Highlight

Yvonne Jegede’s story is a reminder that sometimes, iconic moments come from the opportunities we almost say no to. Her role in African Queen remains etched in Nigerian pop culture, yet she never lost sight of her true dream—acting.

And that dream has paid off. Today, she stands as one of Nollywood’s most respected and seasoned actresses, with a career that has been, in her own words, “fulfilling.”

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