Sauti Sol

Sauti Sol
From left to right: Polycarp Otieno, Savara Mudigi, Willis Chimano and Bien-Aimé Baraza and Philomena Nyangweso in 2013 Mungai , Victor and Olet joined later
From left to right:
Polycarp Otieno, Savara Mudigi, Willis Chimano and Bien-Aimé Baraza and Philomena Nyangweso in 2013 Mungai , Victor and Olet joined later
Background information
OriginNairobi, Kenya
GenresAfro-pop, kapuka
Years active2005 – present
Labels
  • Penya Africa
  • Sol Generation
  • Universal Music Africa
Members
  • Bien-Aimé Baraza
  • Willis Chimano
  • Savara Mudigi
  • Polycarp Otieno
  • Philomena Nyangweso

Myles Olet

Websitewww.sauti-sol.com

Sauti Sol is a Kenyan Afropop band formed in Nairobi in 2005 by vocalists Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano and Savara Mudigi.[1][2][3][4] Initially an a cappella group, guitarist Polycarp Otieno joined before they named themselves Sauti Sol.[5]

Sauti Sol released their debut studio album Mwanzo on 1 November 2008, to critical acclaim. Their second studio album, Sol Filosofia, was released on 25 February 2011, earning the group a number of accolades and nominations in the process. On 18 June 2012, the band released a self-titled extended play in collaboration with South African rapper and record producer Spoek Mathambo.[6] Their third studio album, Live and Die in Afrika, was released online on 21 November 2015 as a free download, available for 48 hours as an early Christmas present.[7]

The band has had several successful tours in Africa and Europe, topped Kenyan charts and gained international attention with shows in Europe and the US, as well as television appearances and various accolades and nominations, including their 2011 concert performance in Kenya with South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.[8] The band has also received both local and international accolades and nominations, including at the Kisima Music Awards,[9] the Channel O Music Video Awards,[10] the MTV Europe Music Awards, and the BET Awards.

  1. ^ Mdundo: Sauti Sol Autobiography, Who is Sauti Sol? and Where is Sauti Sol from
  2. ^ "Sauti Sol". mdundo.com. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  3. ^ Minda Magero (9 September 2012). "Sauti Sol, Kenyan Afro-fusion Band". Africa on the Blog. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Penya Africa | Sauti Sol". Penya Africa. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Sauti Sol: Refreshing Kenyan music now available to the world". Rafiki Kenya. 1 August 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Audio: Sauti Sol EP [prod. by Spoek Mathambo]". Okay Africa. 20 June 2012. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Sauti sol presents Live and Die in Afrika — dreams of greatness —". Safaricom. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  8. ^ Odidi, Bill (3 October 2011). "Ladysmith makes Kenya debut". Business Daily Africa. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Kisima Awards 2011 Winners". KenyanGospel.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Channel O Africa Music Video Awards 2013 nominees announced". Biz Community. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2016.