Yemi Alade taps Bien, Njerae and Sofiya Nzau for new self-titled album

Nigerian Afropop star Yemi Alade has released her new self-titled album, “IT’S YEMI ALADE,” bringing together a diverse cast of African artists, including Kenyan stars Bien, Njerae and Sofiya Nzau.

The 16-track project sees the Grammy-nominated singer return to her musical roots while experimenting with Highlife, Afrobeats, R&B, Lingala, Dancehall and Afro House.

For Kenyan audiences, the album carries a particularly strong East African connection. Bien features on “Don’t Be Shy,” while Sofiya Nzau and Njerae join Alade on “Earth Song.”

“Don’t Be Shy” has already gained traction in Kenya and the wider East African market ahead of the album's release.

Beyond Kenya, Alade has assembled collaborations spanning several corners of Africa and its diaspora. Congolese star Ferre Gola appears on “Coco Na Yam,” Nigerian artists Spyro, Don Jazzy, Teni and Jeriq feature across the project, while French-Congolese singer Singuila joins her on “Paradise.”

Alade describes the album as one of her most personal projects yet and a tribute to the fans who have followed her career.

“IT’S YEMI ALADE is a love letter to my core fans. It is an ode to my Highlife roots, a celebration of where I come from, and an exploration of where I am going,” she said.

Rather than abandoning the sounds that established her career, Alade said she wanted to experiment with them and introduce them to new musical spaces.

“The album is a mixture of new, old, and borrowed sounds,” she said. “This mixology of sounds is not simply about redefining Highlife. It is about elevating it.”

The album moves between dancefloor records and more reflective material. “Owa” and “Minister of Enjoyment” lean into celebration, while songs including “Titanium,” “Earth Song” and “Paradise” explore more reflective territory.

Themes running through the record include love, identity, resilience, spirituality, African culture and everyday enjoyment.

Several tracks had already been released ahead of the full project, giving listeners an indication of its cross-genre approach.

They include “Ala Bekee” featuring Don Jazzy, “Yemi Mi Lova” featuring Spyro, “Don’t Worry” featuring Fave, “Shawa Shawa (Ashawo)” and the Bien collaboration “Don’t Be Shy.”

Fans helped name the album

Despite being self-titled, the name of the album was not entirely Alade's decision.

The singer revealed that she turned to her online community for suggestions on what to call the project.

“I put the question out online and asked them what they thought my next album should be called,” Alade said.

One suggestion repeatedly emerged: “It’s Yemi Alade.”

“So, in many ways, this is a fan-picked album title, even though it is also self-named,” she explained.

For Alade, allowing fans to participate in naming the album was also a way of acknowledging the community that has accompanied her through more than a decade of international success.

“At its heart, this album is a reminder to the people who have been listening since day one of the journey and a warm introduction to the new members of my community,” she said.

“This is still me. This is still my sound. This is still Yemi Alade.”

From ‘Johnny’ to a pan-African catalogue

The project adds another chapter to a career that has made Alade one of Africa's most recognisable female performers.

Her international breakthrough was powered by the success of “Johnny,” which helped propel her beyond Nigeria and establish a large audience across Africa and internationally.

Her catalogue now includes albums and projects such as “King of Queens,” “Mama Africa,” “Black Magic,” “Woman of Steel,” “Empress,” “African Baddie,” “Mamapiano” and “Rebel Queen.”

The new record continues the pan-African approach that has become central to her musical identity, using artists and sounds from different regions rather than restricting the project to Nigeria's Afrobeats ecosystem.

The inclusion of Bien, Njerae and Sofiya Nzau is particularly significant as Kenyan music continues to find a larger audience beyond East Africa.

“IT’S YEMI ALADE” is available worldwide through Effyzzie Music.

‘IT’S YEMI ALADE’ tracklist

Alhaja
General Market
Coco Na Yam ft. Ferre Gola
Little Kiss (E Good)
Yemi Mi Lova ft. Spyro
Ala Bekee ft. Don Jazzy
Owa
Minister of Enjoyment
Don’t Be Shy ft. Bien
Titanium
Earth Song ft. Sofiya Nzau & Njerae
Paradise ft. Singuila
Away ft. Teni
Overtake ft. Jeriq
Worry ft. Fave — Bonus
Ashawo (Sawa Sawa) — Bonus