Sauti Sol
Encyclopedia
Sauti Sol is an award-winning, four-member Afro-fusion
band from Nairobi
, Kenya
. Band members Bien-Aime Baraza, Willis Chimano, Delvin Mudigi and Polycarp Otieno met in high school. They decided to do music professionally in 2005 after they finished high school. Their first single, Lazizi, was a massive hit and paved the way for other Afro-fusion musicians in Kenya. Their debut album, Mwanzo
, which is Swahili
for "beginning”, was released in August, 2009. Their sophomore album, Sol Filosofia
, was released in February, 2011. The band has had successful tours in Europe as well as in Africa.
for “sun”, was added. The band participated in the Spotlight on Kenyan Music competition, hosted by Alliance Française
de Nairobi, in 2006. They were finalists in the competition. The band is signed to Kenyan rapper Wawesh's Penya label.
sound was well received by the Kenyan market. The band members have expressed surprise at their sudden popularity. Singing about everyday issues in their songs, such as asking a girl out in Lazizi and being harassed by police officers in Blue Uniform, has endeared them to music lovers in Kenya as well as in other parts of the world.
The band members have named musicians such as Fadhili William
, Daudi Kabaka
and other established African artists such as Salif Keita
and Lokua Kanza
as their influences.
. All four have expressed their respect for education, even going ahead to sing about it in their single Soma Kijana. The four members are all studying to earn various degrees in local universities. Baraza studies journalism
at the United States International University and Mudigi studies banking and accountancy
at Africa Nazarene University
. Chimano also studies journalism
at the University of Nairobi
, while Otieno studies actuarial science
at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Afro-fusion
Afro-fusion is a type of music which blends contemporary music with traditional African rhythms to create a hybrid music style.One of the best known Afro-fusion artists is Freshlyground from South Africa. There are also many Afro-fusion artists in Eastern Africa. Another is Afro Celt Sound System,...
band from Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. Band members Bien-Aime Baraza, Willis Chimano, Delvin Mudigi and Polycarp Otieno met in high school. They decided to do music professionally in 2005 after they finished high school. Their first single, Lazizi, was a massive hit and paved the way for other Afro-fusion musicians in Kenya. Their debut album, Mwanzo
Mwanzo (Sauti Sol album)
Mwanzo is the debut album of Kenyan Afro-fusion band, Sauti Sol. The first single from the album was Lazizi.- Album Information :Mwanzo was released on 4 August 2009 by Penya Records.The album was produced by Kenyan rapper Wawesh....
, which is Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
for "beginning”, was released in August, 2009. Their sophomore album, Sol Filosofia
Sol Filosofia (album)
Sol Filosofia is the sophomore album of Kenyan Afro-fusion band Sauti Sol. The first single from the album was Soma Kijana.- Album Information :...
, was released in February, 2011. The band has had successful tours in Europe as well as in Africa.
History
The band was originally called Sauti, which is Swahili for "sound", but due to the name being common with other bands in East Africa, the word “sol”, which is SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
for “sun”, was added. The band participated in the Spotlight on Kenyan Music competition, hosted by Alliance Française
Alliance française
The Alliance française , or AF, is an international organisation that aims to promote French language and culture around the world. created in Paris on 21 July 1883, its primary concern is teaching French as a second language and is headquartered in Paris -History:The Alliance was created in Paris...
de Nairobi, in 2006. They were finalists in the competition. The band is signed to Kenyan rapper Wawesh's Penya label.
Musical Style and Influences
Sauti Sol opened a whole new chapter in Kenyan music when they released their debut single, Lazizi. Their fresh, distinct and acousticAcoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
sound was well received by the Kenyan market. The band members have expressed surprise at their sudden popularity. Singing about everyday issues in their songs, such as asking a girl out in Lazizi and being harassed by police officers in Blue Uniform, has endeared them to music lovers in Kenya as well as in other parts of the world.
The band members have named musicians such as Fadhili William
Fadhili William
Fadhili William Mdawida , was a Kenyan musician/composer who is most famous for his song "Malaika" which he recorded with his band 'The Jambo Boys' around 1963 ....
, Daudi Kabaka
Daudi Kabaka
Daudi Kabaka was a Kenyan-born singer.The type of music he is known for is called 'Benga' a popular style in East Africa. His best-known songs include "African Twist", "Harambee Harambee" and "Western Shilo"....
and other established African artists such as Salif Keita
Salif Keita
Salif Keïta is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not only because of his reputation as the Golden Voice of Africa, but because he has albinism and is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita...
and Lokua Kanza
Lokua Kanza
Lokua Kanza is a singer, songwriter, and composer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is known for his soulful, folksy sound, which is atypical of the dancefloor friendly soukous music that is common in the Congo.-Biography:...
as their influences.
Education
Members Bien-Aime Baraza, Willis Chimano and Delvin Mudigi are alumni of Upperhill Secondary School in Upperhill, Nairobi, while Polycarp Otieno attended Strathmore SchoolStrathmore School
Strathmore School is Kenya's first multi-racial school established in 1961 in the Lavington area of Nairobi district. It began as a residential Sixth Form College offering British-styled A-level courses and in 1963 switched from the Cambridge School Certificate Examination to the London GCE. In...
. All four have expressed their respect for education, even going ahead to sing about it in their single Soma Kijana. The four members are all studying to earn various degrees in local universities. Baraza studies journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at the United States International University and Mudigi studies banking and accountancy
Accountancy
Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in money terms the economic resources under the control of management; the art lies in...
at Africa Nazarene University
Africa Nazarene University
Africa Nazarene University is a liberal arts university located in Ongata Rongai, Kenya affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. It is the first Nazarene liberal arts university established outside of the United States...
. Chimano also studies journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at the University of Nairobi
University of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi is the largest university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution goes back to 1956, it did not become an independent university until 1970 when the University of East Africa was split into three independent universities: Makerere University in...
, while Otieno studies actuarial science
Actuarial science
Actuarial science is the discipline that applies mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk in the insurance and finance industries. Actuaries are professionals who are qualified in this field through education and experience...
at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology is a public university near Nairobi, Kenya. It is situated in Juja, 36 kilometres North East of Nairobi, along Nairobi-Thika Highway. It offers courses in Engineering, Science, Architecture and Building sciences...
Discography
Albums
- MwanzoMwanzo (Sauti Sol album)Mwanzo is the debut album of Kenyan Afro-fusion band, Sauti Sol. The first single from the album was Lazizi.- Album Information :Mwanzo was released on 4 August 2009 by Penya Records.The album was produced by Kenyan rapper Wawesh....
- 2009 - Sol FilosofiaSol Filosofia (album)Sol Filosofia is the sophomore album of Kenyan Afro-fusion band Sauti Sol. The first single from the album was Soma Kijana.- Album Information :...
- 2011
Awards won
- Chaguo la Teeniez (CHAT) AwardsChaguo La Teeniez AwardsThe Insyder Magazine' Chaguo La Teeniez Awards is a project that seeks to recognise and award Kenyans youth who have made meaningful contribution to our society by excelling in the disciplines of academics, arts and sports...
- Best Music Group,2010 - Museke Online African Music Awards (MOAMAs) - Best Music Group, 2010
External links
- Official website
- @Sautisol on Twitter
- Sauti Sol on Facebook