Nigerian singer-songwriter Yemi Alade and Kenyan artist Bien have released the music video for their joint single “Don’t Be Shy”, with the visuals shot in Nairobi, Kenya, according to a press release dated July 3, 2026. The release was issued via Effyzzie Music and positions the song as the lead single from Alade’s forthcoming album, “It’s Yemi Alade”, which the statement says is scheduled for release later this year.

The Nairobi location places Kenya at the centre of a cross-border music collaboration that links West and East African markets at a time when streaming platforms and pan-African distribution are increasingly shaping revenue flows for artists, labels and video production teams. While the press release did not disclose production budgets, platform performance targets or commercial terms, it said the video was directed by Ovie and filmed in Nairobi.

In the statement, the organisers described “Don’t Be Shy” as blending Afro-R&B and Kompa, and said the video is set “within a stylish, warmly lit indoor space”. The announcement also framed the release as an early introduction to Alade’s next project, describing “It’s Yemi Alade” as her 11th music project.

Yemi Alade said the collaboration built on her long-standing creative relationship with Bien. “I have always loved the soulfulness of Bien’s music and working with him on this record was so easy,” Yemi Alade said in the press release. “Music has always been about emotion and connection for me. And I feel like in ‘Don’t Be Shy’ we are both being playful, confident and honest, in expressing feelings when you’re into someone.”

Bien, who is also a founding member of Kenyan band Sauti Sol, said the collaboration was driven by a natural creative fit. “Working with Yemi was an incredible experience because the energy felt natural from the beginning,” Bien said, according to the statement. “’Don’t Be Shy’ is about confidence, chemistry and enjoying the moment.”

The press release traces the artists’ previous collaborations to Yemi Alade and Sauti Sol’s track “Africa”, followed by other creative exchanges, including a Swahili version of “Nagode” and Yemi Alade’s contribution to a remix project connected to Bien’s “All My Enemies Are Suffering”. The statement positions the new single as a continuation of that relationship.

For Kenya’s music business, Nairobi being selected as a shoot location is significant for the local creative economy, including film crews, studios, stylists, set builders and location service providers, whose work increasingly feeds into pan-African releases. Cross-regional collaborations also tend to widen an artist’s addressable audience, which can influence touring demand, brand partnerships and catalogue streaming—although no such commercial projections were provided in the release.

The statement also notes the album is expected to arrive “ahead of a major showcase in Paris, France,” suggesting international promotional activity around the broader project. No dates for the album release or the Paris showcase were disclosed.

Next milestones are likely to include additional singles ahead of the album rollout, as well as potential performance and media appearances tied to the Paris event referenced in the statement. Effyzzie Music and Anyiko PR were listed as points of contact for management and media inquiries, respectively.

Base to Billboardz (B2B) has named Muringi Matheri, Manasseh Shalom, Zawadi Mukami, Chris Barr, Peter Njuguna and Ras Amor as the six finalists for its inaugural six-month artist development programme, backed by Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) through its Tusker brand and mentored by musician Bien.

The announcement was made on March 27, 2026 in Nairobi, following a live showcase at the Tusker Brew House where the finalists were selected from an initial shortlist of 30 through a combination of public voting and input from industry experts, according to the organisers.

B2B was launched in February and is positioned by its backers as a career accelerator rather than a conventional music competition. The programme does not provide a single “winner-takes-all” cash prize, and instead focuses on training and industry readiness for artists who already have market traction, the statement said.

Christine Kariuki, Head of Mainstream Beer at KBL, said Tusker will track the artistes’ progress through the programme. “Since the launch, we have been eager to witness the six artists in action, and we look forward to tracking the impact of this initiative on their growth and development. We want to support them every step of the way as they elevate their careers,” Kariuki said. She added that the brand’s aim is to contribute to Kenya’s music and cultural scene.

The organisers identified each finalist with a track associated with their growing profile: Muringi Matheri (“Managī”), Manasseh Shalom (“Dark Brown Eyes”), Zawadi Mukami (“Jua Tua”), Chris Barr (“Hamu”), Peter Njuguna (“Delulu”) and Ras Amor (“Hawa Wasichana”).

According to the press release, eligibility for B2B targets semi-established Kenyan artists who have released an album or EP, have live performance experience, at least one million career streams, and an online audience of more than 10,000 followers. The programme’s curriculum includes weekly workshops on vocals, songwriting and dance or movement, plus monthly masterclasses on the business side of music such as branding, publishing, distribution, contracts, monetisation and international expansion.

Bien, named as the principal mentor, said the selected artists show originality and promise. “I am quite optimistic about the level of talent and originality we are seeing from the artists in this programme. Each of them brings a unique sound and perspective that reflects the richness of Kenya’s music scene,” he said. “I am excited about what lies ahead because with the right mentorship, structure, and commitment to the craft, they have the potential to grow into artists who can compete and thrive on bigger stages, both locally and globally.”

The initiative adds to a growing trend of corporate-backed creative economy programmes in Kenya, where brands increasingly invest in music platforms as both cultural sponsorship and a route to audience engagement. For the music sector, structured mentorship and business training address persistent gaps that often prevent artists from converting online popularity into durable income, including weak contract literacy, limited publishing knowledge, fragmented distribution strategies and inconsistent access to professional networks.

The organisers said the programme will culminate with the six finalists forming a collective and releasing a joint album, which will be introduced at a launch event. They argue that the approach responds to challenges faced by semi-established artists, including limited mentorship and insufficient commercial backing, even as demand for Kenyan music grows.

Tusker has previously supported Kenyan music through platforms such as Tusker Project Fame, Nexters and Oktoberfest, and the company said B2B shifts emphasis toward longer-term artist development.