Close Menu
    Subscribe
    Editorial

    Sauti Sol: The Biggest Kenyan Music Band Export

    Tolu OkeBy Updated:No Comments4 Mins Read

    Sauti Sol is one of the hottest musical groups out of Africa right now. Their pop sound, mixed with traditional Kenyan influences has made them one of the most popular groups in East Africa.

    Sauti Sol: The Biggest Kenyan Music Band Export
    Sauti Sol: The Biggest Kenyan Music Band Export

    With the unique and dynamic style this music band, “Sauti Sol” uses in disseminating great sounds, here is a look into them being the biggest music export in Kenya.

    The four members group-band starring, Bein-Aime Baraza, Willis Austin Chimano, Delvin Mudigi, and Polycarp Otieno, came into the limelight as an Acappella group and later formed their four-group band, under the leadership of Penya Records.

    Accordingly, the band’s formation is an “all-star” instrumentalists bonding, from the guitarist to the keyboardist and drummer. Variably, all four stars can handle more than one instrument.

    In 2009, this group released their debut project “Mwanzo“, a 14-track body of work, which houses their call to fame song, “Lazizi.” Lazizi, the catchy mind-blowing Afropop song.

    Upon arrival, I must confess Mwanzo got the world’s attention, more importantly within the borders of the East African territory. Although not too good with the streaming numbers, it still became their pathway to stardom.

    Another remarkable thing about the album was its versatility in sound; not many upcoming these days understand the importance of that.

    On the 25th of February 2011, they served us another impressive project, Sol Filosofia.

    The 12-tracks album still sees this band maintain their acapella-like sound and still blew within the borders of the East African territory.

    Of course, proximity has done its course, and they have started taking tours around Kenya and other Eastern parts, however, they needed to go beyond the claws of the Eastern borders and prepare a table for themselves in the international market. That brings us to:

    EXPLORING MUSIC BEYOND THE EAST AFRICAN BORDERS

    Sauti Sol: The Biggest Kenyan Music Band Export

    As beautiful as their harmonious voices are and talented with the strings and other instruments, they needed a channel to export their sound to the 7 continents of the world. Thus, they invented the international collaboration style; which variably works for everyone. Not just that, they targetted the biggest exporters of African music to the world (Nigeria) and did pretty well in selecting their features.

    After securing an irremovable spot in the African market with several awards and nominations including the BET and MTV, they returned in 2019 with the African Sauce album.

    I call it the album that shaped their career. It is a body of work consisting of 12 tracks,  and awesome features from Nigerian artistes.

    It starts off with the lead single “Melanin” featuring Nigeria’s dancehall singer, Patoranking. Verily, many would agree this song exported their career and even gave them a spot in the Nigerian market, considering it is one of the toughest.

    Likewise, it is safe to say it is one of their most streamed songs so far, with a whopping 24million on YouTube, and claiming the most streamed on Spotify with over a 6millon views.

    Then, a follow-up to Girl Next Door feat. Tiwa Savage, which is also a banging jam on the project. They didn’t stop at that, Sauti made their third track with another Nigerian and now Grammy Award winner, Burna Boy. The Afrikan Star became a top sensational tune, with top-charting numbers.

    So far, they have been able to sell their style of music as a band beyond the territories of the African continent by being a great music brand and having intelligent management.

    AWARDS 

    Here is a short reflection on the many achievements of the Sauti Sol music group.

    Together, this band has earned themselves over 40 award nominations with a good win of 26. Among others include the BET award nomination in 2015 as the Best International African Act.

    With this feat, no other music band in Kenya and East Africa as a whole has been able to come close.