- Nollywood actress Yvonne Jegede shared a candid conversation on the Nollywood on Radio podcast, reminiscing about her past.
- Yvonne, an actress and mother of one, shares her experience of nearly turning down a role in 2Baba’s “African Queen” music video.
Nollywood actress Yvonne Jegede has taken a trip down memory lane, revealing that she almost passed up on the opportunity that introduced her to many Nigerians her role in 2Baba’s iconic “African Queen” music video.
In a candid conversation on the Nollywood on Radio podcast, the actress opened up about how the opportunity came her way and why she initially declined it.
“When the director first called me, I didn’t even think twice. I said, ‘No, I’m not interested,’” Yvonne recalled with a laugh. At the time, she was laser-focused on launching her acting career and didn’t see music videos as part of that journey.
Adding to the hesitation, she admitted she wasn’t even familiar with the song or 2Baba’s solo career. “I only knew 2Baba as part of Plantashun Boiz,” she said. “So when they mentioned ‘African Queen,’ I was like, ‘Which one is that again?’”
Everything changed after a casual chat with a friend named Michael. She told him about the offer, brushing it off as “some stupid video.” But when she mentioned the title, Michael immediately urged her to accept. “He screamed, ‘Go and do it! That song is amazing!’”
Encouraged by his excitement, she called the director back, prepared herself overnight, and was on set the next morning where she met 2Baba in person for the first time. “I saw him and said to myself, ‘So this is real o,’” she joked.
Although the music video helped launch her into the limelight, Yvonne clarified that she never had plans to be a video vixen. “I just wanted to act. That’s always been the dream,” she stated. Aside from African Queen, the only other music video she featured in was Djinee’s “Ego,” which she did as a favor to a friend.
Now an accomplished actress and producer, Yvonne Jegede has since built a strong presence in Nollywood far beyond her early music video fame.
