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.

Nigerian singer-songwriter Yemi Alade has released a new single, “Don’t Be Shy”, featuring Kenyan artist Bien-Aimé, according to a statement issued by her label, Effyzzie Music, and distributed by Anyiko PR. The release marks the first single from Alade’s upcoming self-titled album, “IT’S YEMI ALADE”, which is scheduled to drop later this year.

The track was produced by Nigerian producer De Yaso alongside Kenyan producer Kobby Worldwide, the statement said, positioning the song as a cross-border collaboration between Nigerian and Kenyan music talent. The release also adds to a growing list of joint projects between West and East African artists, as streaming platforms and touring circuits continue to reward regional partnerships that can scale beyond home markets.

For Kenya’s music business, Bien’s appearance on a high-profile West African release reflects the continued export push by Kenyan acts seeking wider African and global audiences. Bien has built a solo catalogue following his career with Kenyan band Sauti Sol, and has increasingly featured on collaborations that target multi-market listenership across Africa and the diaspora.

In remarks included in the press release, Alade said the collaboration came together easily. “I have always loved the soulfulness of Bien’s music and working with him on this record was so easy,” Yemi Alade said. She added that the track focuses on “emotion and connection” and that in the song “we are both being playful, confident and honest, in expressing feelings when you’re into someone.”

Bien said the session benefited from creative alignment from the outset. “Working with Yemi was an incredible experience because the energy felt natural from the beginning,” Bien-Aimé said in the statement. He described the song as “about confidence, chemistry and enjoying the moment,” adding: “We want you to just feel good and loosen up when this song comes on.”

The release builds on earlier creative links between Alade and the Sauti Sol camp. The press release cited their past work, including Alade and Sauti Sol’s collaboration “Africa”, as well as subsequent cross-interpretations, including a Swahili version of Alade’s “Nagode” and Alade’s take on Bien’s “All My Enemies Are Suffering,” which her team said was included on the song’s Remix EP.

While the statement did not disclose commercial terms, marketing budgets, or projected streaming targets, such collaborations can influence revenue flows across publishing, master recordings, and performance rights, particularly as African music consumption increasingly shifts to digital platforms. For Kenyan stakeholders—artists, producers, managers and labels—high-visibility features can also translate into higher booking fees, brand interest, and additional licensing opportunities, although outcomes depend on sustained audience conversion beyond a single release.

Alade’s team also linked the single to her next major milestones, saying the forthcoming album will arrive “ahead of a major showcase in Paris, France.” No specific date for the Paris event was provided in the statement.

Next steps for the project are expected to include additional singles and promotional appearances tied to the album rollout later this year. Effyzzie Music and Anyiko PR did not provide further details on the album’s tracklist, release date, or distribution strategy in the press release.