Even though Sauti Sol is the top boy band in the nation, singer Bien Aime-Baraza explained to Nairobi News why the group doesn’t perform at official events.
According to Bien, it seems like the government can’t afford their services, and so they can’t perform at any national function, including the upcoming Labour Day celebrations.
“We will never perform in any public holiday celebration because the government cannot afford to pay us. It is the bitter truth,” Bien said.
Bien went ahead and revealed that Sauti Sol was paid Sh40K to perform at a government function in 2011, and they shared the money amongst themselves.
Sauti Sol star Bien
However, he outlined that they were still growing as a group at the time, and that was all. What is Sauti Sol’s rate card?
Sauti Sol and Kenyan politics
After claiming that the coalition had utilized their popular song “Extravaganza” without their consent during one of their events, Sauti Sol and Azimio crossed paths in 2022.
“We did not give any consent for its use in the announcement of their deputy presidential candidate. Furthermore, our authority to use the composition, which is one of our most distinct compositions, was neither sought nor given,” Sauti Sol said.
Members of Sauti Sol pose for a group photo
Sauti Sol distanced themselves from any political party, despite several musicians performing for different coalitions during rallies.
Sauti Sol’s Savara poses for a photo
“We would like to make it very clear to our fans, partners, and associates, we are not aligned to, nor associated with, the Azimio la Umoja, or any other political movement and/or party their presidential aspirants, deputy presidential aspirants, and candidates at large,” read the statement.
Bien, on his own, claims that Sauti Sol will always stand with the people, while adding that his goal is to give people hope.
