SAUTI SOL

Band/Musicians

SAUTI SOL

Sauti Sol was formed in 2005 in Nairobi as an a cappella group, until Otieno joined them and they became known as Sauti (Swahili for sound). The band later added Sol (Spanish for sun) to make “voices in the sun.” Their debut studio album, ‘Mwanzo’ was released in 2008 and enjoyed great popularity. They later followed up with, ‘Sol Filosofia’ in 2011. The music video for the single ‘Coming Home’ earned them the Best Music Video award at the Kisima Music Awards and the band also walked away with the Best Fusion Artist/Group of the Year award. Their collaboration EP with South African rapper and producer Spoek Mathambo was released in 2012. Released in 2015, ‘Live and Die in Afrika’ is their third studio album. It was released for free download for 48 hours as an early Christmas present to their fans, earning 400,000 downloads in the period. Apart from topping Kenyan charts, the band have several successful tours across Africa, the US and Europe under their belt. They have also produced and released numerous chart-topping tracks with top drawer artists, such as, Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage, Patoranking and Burna Boy. Some of their big wins are BET Awards, an MTV EMA for Best African Act, MTV AFRICA Award for Best Africa Group, Kisima Music Awards and a Channel O Music Video Award for Most Gifted East African Act. The four members are all university graduates, Baraza and Chimano have degrees in journalism, Savara studied commerce and finance, while Otieno boasts an actuarial science degree. 

Last year the band opened their own record label; Sol Generation Records, with the sole mission of developing and introducing new iconic live African acts. – founded on the ethos of discipline, order, passion and endurance (dope). The award winning afro-pop band Sauti Sol, hail from Nairobi, Kenya and have been topping the charts for more than a decade. Long time friends Polycarp Otieno, Savara Mudigi, Willis Chimano and Bien-Aime Baraza, cemented their place as one of the leading bands from the continent and the upward trajectory fuelled by their ‘church of good vibes’ ethos wins them fans all over the world.