From Reluctant Vixen to Screen Star, Yvonne Jegede Reveals Her Journey Through ‘African Queen’ and Beyond

 

Nollywood actress Yvonne Jegede has taken a reflective look back at one of the most iconic moments of her early career: her appearance in the legendary music video for 2Baba’s African Queen. Although her face became widely recognized after the video, she nearly missed out on the opportunity that helped launch her into the limelight.

During a candid conversation on the Nollywood on Radio podcast, Jegede peeled back the layers behind what many fans assumed was a carefully chosen career move. Rather than chasing the spotlight of music video fame, she revealed that the entire experience was more accidental than strategic.

Her recollection paints a picture of a young actress determined to make a mark in film, not music videos. Despite the wave of artists during that time seeking visually captivating women for their projects, Jegede had her eyes set on acting alone. So when the call came from the director of African Queen, her instinct was to reject the offer outright.

“I was not interested. I wasn’t even thinking about being a vixen. Acting was the only thing I wanted,” she explained during the interview. “When the director called me about the shoot, I told him, ‘No, I’m not interested,’ without thinking twice.”

Fate, however, had a different plan.

The music video was scheduled to be shot the very next morning, leaving little room for changes. But as the day progressed, Jegede casually brought up the offer during a conversation with a friend named Michael. She mentioned it dismissively, calling it a “stupid thing” someone had asked her to do. Her friend’s reaction shifted everything.

“The moment I said the words African Queen, Michael went wild. He screamed, saying he loved that song and told me to go for it,” she recounted with a laugh. “That was when I realized it might be something bigger than I thought.”

She quickly rang the director, received the shoot address, and was given instructions on how to prepare her hair for the following day. It was all set in motion within hours.

Arriving on set, Jegede was stunned to meet 2Baba himself, who had just begun his solo journey after his exit from the group Plantashun Boiz. At the time, she hadn’t even heard his new material. Seeing him for the first time brought a new awareness to the project she had almost walked away from.

That appearance in African Queen would go on to become one of the defining moments in Nigerian music video history. While the song catapulted 2Baba into solo superstardom, the video played a crucial role in bringing visuals to the soulful lyrics, and Jegede was front and center.

Despite the visibility it gave her, Jegede remained committed to her first love: acting. She made it clear that being a video vixen was never her long-term plan.

Her second music video appearance, for Djinee’s song Ego, was not the result of a professional ambition, but rather a favor for a friend. The director, who also worked with Styl Plus, had hoped to cast her in the video for Olufunmi. Unfortunately, traffic in Lagos prevented her from making it to that shoot on time.

“I was supposed to be in Olufunmi, but I was late. Traffic held me up,” she explained. “So that could have been part of my portfolio too, but I missed it.”

After just two videos, Jegede made the decision to walk away from the vixen world entirely. She expressed no regrets about choosing acting and admitted that the journey has been deeply fulfilling.

“I’ve come a long way, and yes, I’ve seen a lot,” she said with a mix of pride and gratitude. “I’m still here, still pushing. And yes, it has been fulfilling. I won’t lie.”

Jegede’s story serves as a reminder that some of the most pivotal moments in life can come from spur-of-the-moment decisions. Her journey from reluctant video star to accomplished actress underscores the importance of staying true to one’s passion, even when unexpected detours offer moments of fame.

From that spontaneous phone call to becoming the face in one of Africa’s most beloved love songs, Yvonne Jegede’s career trajectory remains an inspiring tale for anyone chasing their dreams on their own terms.