(L-R): Sauti Sol--Bien-Aime Baraza, Savara Mudigi, Willis Chimano and (on guitar) Polycarp Otieno--perform in Kigali, Rwanda, on Sept. 17, 2016 as part of their “Live and Die in Afrika Tour.” (Photo : Inyarwanda TV/YouTube)
China-Kenya relations have long been fostered since the early 1960s.
A month from now, this East African nation will export to China something that would be music to the ears.
Multi-awarded all-male Kenyan group Sauti Sol will bring its brand of music to China in May, reported Xinhua.
During their 10-day China tour, the group will sing not only in their native language of Swahili but also in Chinese.
They will be performing in Beijing; Chengdu, Sichuan Province; and Shanghai. Other cities are being considered as well.
Composed of vocalist-songwriter Bien-Aime Baraza, Willis Austin Chimano, Savara Mudigi and guitarist-producer Polycarp Otieno--all aged 29--Sauti Sol showcased their talents at the launch of the Kenya Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Nairobi on March 25, according to their official Twitter account.
In a video clip they shared, they cheered the attendees to stand up and clap--the people did--during their song number.
They attended a press briefing with the members of the Chinese media who flew into Kenya for the event.
“It’s a [sic] high time we export Kenyan music to China and Vice Versa [sic],” tweeted the group on March 25.
In their interview with Xinhua, Baraza said that their China tour would serve as a “promotion of cultural exchange.”
He added that they would like to work with Chinese musicians and know more about the Chinese.
Winning voices, shining performances
Via Twitter, the group revealed that “sauti” means “voice” and “sol” is Spanish for “sun.”
“We wanted [to] touch everyone’s heart with our voices hence the name Voices in the Sun (Sauti Sol),” according to them.
In 2016, Sauti Sol entertained 21 cities across Africa for their “Live and Die in Afrika Tour.”
The afro-pop group performed at the Global Citizen Festival 2015 in New York's Central Park on Sept. 26. Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Pearl Jam also performed.
They have three albums to date: “Mwanzo” (2008), “Sol Filosofia” (2011) and “Live and Die in Afrika” (2015), with the latest considered to be the most successful.
Sauti Sol’s recent achievement was winning twice at the 5th HiPipo Music Awards held in Kampala, Uganda, on Feb. 4, according to HiPipo’s website.
Their song “Unconditionally Bae,” a result of their collaboration with Tanzanian singer-songwriter Ali Kiba, became “Song of the Year Kenya” and “East Africa Super Hit.”
At the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards, Sauti Sol accepted the “Best Group” award.
Throughout the years, the Kenyan music industry has recognized the group’s abilities as performers.
They won “Best Male Artist in East Africa” (2016 Bingwa Awards), “Artist of the Year” (2013 Kenya Social Media Awards), “Best Afro-Fusion Group” (2011 Kisima Music Award) and “Best Group in Kenya” (The Insyder Magazine’s Chaguo La Teeniez Awards, 2011).
In other parts of the world, Nigerian-based All Africa Music Awards conferred to them the “Best Group” and “Producer of the Year” awards in 2015.
The 2015 African Muzik Magazine Awards, founded in Texas, USA, declared them “Best African Group.”
In another continent, Sauti Sol became “Best African Act” (2014 MTV Europe Music Awards) and “Top African Act to Watch” (BBC Radio 1Xtra, 2015).
Brothers from different mothers
On March 20, someone with the handle @fundi_waMaji tweeted: “How have you managed to stick around together. [sic] Many groups are splitting.”
“Not so fast...We'll [sic] just break up in the next 60 years. But for now it’s [because of] friendship and brotherhood,” replied the group.
They shared the same sentiment when another one asked how they “manage to be a Team [sic] for more than 12 years.”
Their reply: “Friendship and brotherly love… But don't worry, we’ll break up when we’re 90.”
What could explain the group’s strong bond?
Sauti Sol’s musical journey started way back when they were high school students in 2005. They formed an a acapella group when they went to Upper Hill School in Nairobi.
They tweeted on March 20 that for this year, they will engage in “continental collabos [collaborations].”
In Asia, that will be China.
