French-Cameroonian sensation Yamê teams up with Nigerian Afropop star Adekunle Gold on a dreamy new cross-continental single titled “On My Mind.”
This is the kind of collaboration that makes you excited about where African music is heading globally. Yamê is not your typical artist. Born Emmanuel Sow in Cergy-Pontoise, France, to a Senegalese-Cameroonian father who was himself a musician, the man grew up between two worlds. He spent part of his childhood in Douala, Cameroon, before returning to France after losing his mother. That duality – French sophistication mixed with deep West African roots – runs through everything he creates. His COLORS session for “Bécane” has crossed 35 million views, and major names like Stromae, Booba, and even Timbaland have publicly co-signed his talent.
Why Adekunle Gold Makes Sense Here
Adekunle Gold has always been the most globally adaptable voice in Nigerian Afropop. Albums like Catch Me If You Can and Tequila Ever After proved he can slide comfortably into any sonic environment without losing his identity. So pairing him with Yamê – an artist who blends French chanson, R&B, trap, and African rhythms into something entirely his own – creates a meeting point that feels organic rather than forced. Both artists understand how to honour their roots while reaching beyond them, and “On My Mind” benefits from that shared instinct.
The Boat Session Visual
The official music video was shot as a “Boat Session” directed by Igor Dorembus, and the setting alone adds a layer of intimacy to the record. Instead of a high-budget, flashy visual, the boat concept keeps things stripped back and personal. It puts the music and the chemistry between both artists front and centre. That creative choice matches the mood of “On My Mind” – a song that clearly prioritises feeling over spectacle.
A Bigger Movement
Records like “On My Mind” represent the growing bridge between Francophone African music and the Anglophone Afrobeats world. Yamê already moves between French rap, Cameroonian rhythms, and global pop with ease. Adding Adekunle Gold to that mix only widens the reach. For Nigerian listeners who haven’t heard Yamê before, this collaboration is the perfect entry point into an artist who is quietly becoming one of the most exciting voices coming out of the Franco-African music scene.
Go stream “On My Mind” now across all platforms and watch the boat session visual on YouTube.
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