Sauti Sol blends warm resonant pop with traditional Kenyan influences. Their mélange of energetic rhythms has promoted the group to become one of Africa’s most celebrated.

Why you should listen

Sauti Sol is an award-winning Afro-pop group from Kenya, crowned Best Group (Africa) at the MTV Africa Music Awards in 2016, along with the 2016 Soundcity MTV Awards and African Muzik Magazine Awards. Comprising Bien-Aime Baraza, Willis Austin Chimano, Polycarp Otieno and Savara Mudigi, the group mixes their soulful voices with vocal harmonies, guitar riffs and drum rhythm. In 2016 Sauti Sol made history by being the first Kenyan artists to run a successful and professional nationwide tour. After the Kenyan completion of Sauti Sol’s Live and Die in Afrika tour, it took onto the world stage with a focus on African countries and a detailed American tour.

Sauti Sol’s discography includes three albums: Mwanzo (2008), Sol Filosofia (2011) and the blockbuster Live and Die in Afrika (2015), as well as a 2012 self-titled collaborative EP with South African avant-garde rapper/producer Spoek Mathambo.

Sauti Sol’s TED talk