Kenyan singer Bahati on Friday February 20, 2026, released the music video for his new single ‘Matamu’, describing the track as a love ballad and clarifying that recent online narratives linked to his name were part of promotional buildup rather than real-life controversy.
The video premiered at 10 a.m. East Africa Time on the artist’s official YouTube channel, marking his first major music release of 2026.
The launch followed several weeks of social media promotion that sparked speculation among fans about storylines the singer had teased online, including references to a “DNA test” and “Mama” narrative.
Ahead of the release, Bahati addressed the speculation through posts on TikTok, stating that ‘Matamu’ is a romantic song and not connected to a DNA test with a woman claiming to be his biological mother which has created a lot of buzz.
The music video was directed by Nezzoh Montana and filmed at Waterfront Country Club in Juja. Model Rahab Tins appears as the lead in the video.
Audio production for the song was handled by producer Giddy Vibes under EMB Entertainment, the label associated with Bahati’s music projects.
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The release comes shortly after a public online exchange between Bahati and rapper Khaligraph Jones, who jokingly suggested that the singer delay the release to avoid competing with other trending songs.
Bahati responded that artists should not fear releasing music at the same time as others.
Matamu arrives as Bahati’s first significant release this year, following a period of heightened online activity tied to its promotion. The song focuses on themes of romance and affection, accompanied by a cinematic video emphasizing lifestyle and relationship imagery.
The rollout reflects a promotional strategy increasingly common among artists, where social media storytelling precedes official releases, helping build anticipation before a project becomes publicly available.
