History Sauti Sol

formation , years (2005–2011)

the band formed in 2005 cappella group baraza, chimano , savara, had met @ upper hill high school , performed in voices in light, music group @ school. met guitarist otieno, attended strathmore school, @ alliance française in nairobi, frequent , decided form sauti (swahili sound ) , wrote first song, mafunzo ya dunia (literally: lessons of world), later feature in debut studio album mwanzo. band later added spanish word sol (sun) name , formed sauti sol (supposed mean voices in sun ). in 2006, band participated in spotlight on kenyan music competition, hosted alliance française in nairobi. included in album compilation recording , later got signed penya records. 4 members completed university education in kenya. baraza studied journalism @ united states international university, while savara studied commerce , finance @ africa nazarene university. chimano studied journalism @ university of nairobi, while otieno studied actuarial science @ jomo kenyatta university of agriculture , technology.

sauti sol released debut studio album mwanzo on 4 august 2009, via record label penya records, critical acclaim, , followed second studio album sol filosofia 2 years later. music video album s second single, coming home , earned them best music video award @ 2011 kisima music awards, group winning best fusion artist/group of year award.

sauti sol , live , die in afrika (2012–present)

in july 2012, sauti sol released self-titled extended play, collaborative effort south african rapper , record-producer spoek mathambo, produced ep in nairobi , johannesburg. music video lead single, range rover , shot @ hembrug in zaandam, netherlands, in old ammunition factory official cultural heritage site popularly referred cathedral . kenyan singer dela, collaborated band mama papa mwanzo, appeared in song slow , features mathambo. music video shot in amsterdam. band released love or leave ep s second single, music video shot in amsterdam during band s stop in city part of european tour in 2012. song gentleman rap group p-unit earned them nomination teeniez group or collabo award @ 2012 chaguo la teeniez awards, losing out alternative hip hop group camp mulla. second time nominated award, losing p-unit previous year.

sauti sol s recognition continued rise in 2012, nominated , won gifted east african award @ 2012 channel o music video awards song shukuru tanzanian rapper ay.

on 29 april 2014, band released nishike . music video caused uproar in media due steamy content, , ended getting banned local tv stations. baraza later expressed anger ban, stating refuses secular artist boxed society restrict freedom of expression. received nomination best group award @ 2014 mtv africa music awards, lost out south african group mafikizolo. music video has received 2014 nomination east africa s gifted video channel o music video awards

after nishike , sauti sol released third studio album, live , die in afrika. album, released online on 21 november 2015, available sauti sol fans globally free download (48 hours) christmas present. album released under imprint label sauti sol entertainment self-produced work sauti sol sauti sol. total of 400,000 downloads made during free download period. band released fourth single off live , die in afrika entitled sura yako (your face). introduced spin-off lipala dance competition run on instagram sparked online dance movement in africa , across globe. following success of competition, band released single s music video on 12 september 2014.