Yvonne Jegede reveals why she nearly rejected role in ‘African Queen’ music video

Nollywood actress Yvonne Jegede has opened up about how she nearly missed out on appearing in 2Baba’s legendary 2004 music video African Queen — a role that would later become a memorable moment in Nigerian pop culture.

In a recent interview, Jegede revealed that she initially turned down the offer to feature in the video, saying she had no interest in being a music video vixen at the time.

Her focus was entirely on building a career in acting, and she didn’t think much of the opportunity when the director first reached out.

“I didn’t even know the song,” she recalled.

“Tuface had just gone solo from Plantashun Boiz, and I hadn’t heard any of his solo work.

“So when they mentioned African Queen, I was like, what song is that?”

It wasn’t until later that evening, while speaking with a friend, that Jegede began to reconsider.

After casually mentioning the offer, her friend excitedly urged her to take it, describing the song as a hit.

“He screamed, ‘I love that song, go and do it!’ That was when I thought, maybe I should,” she said.

Jegede eventually called the director back, received the details, and prepared for the shoot.

She arrived on set the next morning — and met 2Baba for the first time.

“It was surreal. I couldn’t believe it.

“But even then, I was sure of one thing — I didn’t want to become a video vixen,” she emphasized.

“I kept telling everyone, I just want to act.”

Despite her brief appearance in the music video, Jegede stayed true to her path, going on to build a successful acting career in Nollywood.

Her cameo in African Queen remains one of the most iconic visuals in Nigerian music history — a moment she nearly missed.