Yemi Alade is kicking off her run toward a highly anticipated 2026 album and world tour with the release of her exhilarating new single, “Shawa Shawa,” available now via Effyzzie Music.
The infectious track, which dropped on November 13, is a bright, colourful slice of Afropop. It features an enriching fusion of Calypso and Highlife music, all wrapped in the global music icon and Afropop queen’s signature vocal prowess and captivating performance style.
“Shawa Shawa” caps off an eventful 2025 for the renowned Nigerian musician. The year saw her achieve a solo GRAMMY Award nomination, grace the cover of Forbes Africa and OkayAfrica, and deliver a series of chart-topping hits including “Worry” (featuring Fave), “My Padi” and “Mbali.” She also boldly ventured into the beauty industry with the launch of her cosmetics brand, Yem Beauty.
Now, the single sets the stage for her seventh studio album, due in 2026, which will be accompanied by her second world tour in less than three years.
Written and composed by Yemi Alade and produced by Grammy-nominated longtime collaborator DeeYasso, “Shawa Shawa” is more than just a dance track. At its core, it’s a joyful anthem that moves bodies and minds in equal measure.
The Queen of Afropop expertly weaves humour and heart into lyrics that touch upon morality, social perception, and cultural norms surrounding complex societal topics.
“Life happens all around us every day and this song merely just touches on the oldest profession in the world and ‘Shawa Shawa’ takes you back to the basics of celebrating the roots of African culture,” Yemi Alade explained about the track’s inspiration. “Many stories have been told through this medium and that was exactly my goal when I wrote this song.”
With its radiant soundscape, instant hooks and candid storytelling, “Shawa Shawa” reaffirms Yemi Alade’s status as a prolific storyteller and a standard-bearer for African pop music, inviting listeners to reflect while they groove.
Revered as the biggest female Afropop artiste on the African continent, Yemi Alade, fondly known as ‘Mama Africa,’ boasts an award-winning discography that includes six critically acclaimed albums and hits like “Johnny,” “Baddie” and “Tomorrow”. Her global appeal is undeniable, with her music surpassing one billion streams and securing her a GRAMMY Award (for her collaboration with Angélique Kidjo), a solo GRAMMY nomination, and multiple BET, MOBO and MTV Africa Music Awards.
Beyond music, Yemi is a UN ambassador dedicated to philanthropy through the James and Helen PathWay Foundation.
