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.