How I landed ‘African Queen’ role – Yvonne Jegede

Yvonne Jegede has opened up about how she came to be featured in 2Baba’s classic 2004 hit “African Queen,” admitting she almost missed the opportunity.

Speaking on the Nollywood on Radio podcast, the 41-year-old recalled receiving a call from the video’s director, which she initially dismissed.

“When the director of African Queen first called, I bluntly just said, ‘No, I am not interested,’” she recalled.

Jegede, who hadn’t yet immersed herself in 2Baba’s solo work following his split from Plantashun Boiz, confessed she was unfamiliar with the song at the time.

“I did not know what ‘African Queen’ was; I wondered, what is ‘African Queen,’ and which song is that?” she added.

Later that evening, a conversation with a friend, Michael, stirred a change of heart.

“He screamed, ‘I love that song, go and do it,’” she said. “And I said, okay, let me call the director… And lo and behold, I saw that legend 2Baba,” she recounted.

Jegede described the experience as surreal and expressed that while the role propelled her into public recognition, she never intended to become a music video vixen. She emphasized her enduring passion for acting.

“I just wanted to act. That’s always been the dream,” she affirmed.

Aside from African Queen, Jegede appeared in one more music video, Djinee’s “Ego,”as a favour to a friend.