Sauti Sol Announces Breakup After 18 Years

Popular boy band Sauti Sol on Saturday, May 20 announced that they will be taking an indefinite hiatus from the music scene, 18 years since the band was formed in Nairobi in 2005.

In a detailed statement, the four-man band, known for songs such as Suzanna, Kuliko Jana, Midnight Train, Short and Sweet among others, revealed that they will split after their world tour and drop their last album at the end of this year (2023).

They will embark on a final tour in the US, Europe and Canada between May 21 to September 3 in a “celebration of their remarkable journey” before each member takes some time to work on personal endeavours.

“Sauti Sol has been an incredible journey for us, both as musicians and friends, We are filled with gratitude for the love and support we have received throughout the years. While we take this hiatus to pursue our individual and collective passions, we remain committed to our friendship and our shared businesses. The bond between us is unbreakable and we are excited for what the future holds,” they wrote in part.

The upcoming tour across the US, Europe, and Canada will present a chance for fans to immerse themselves in the magic of Sauti Sol one last time before the band takes a break from group projects for a while. Each performance will be infused with a sense of deep love and gratitude, as the ensemble delivers their timeless hits and fan favourites that have left an indelible mark on the collective memories of their fans.

The band added that while the indefinite hiatus marks the end of a specific chapter, it also represents a new beginning for Sauti Sol.

"As close friends and business partners, the band members, Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano, Polycarp Otieno, and Savara Mudigi, are eager to explore fresh creative avenues and embark on personal endeavours. However, their friendship and shared vision will continue to be the driving force behind their future projects," added the statement.

"Sauti Sol has been an incredible journey for us, both as musicians and friends. We are filled with gratitude for the love and support we have received throughout the years.

"While we take this hiatus to pursue our individual and collective passions, we remain committed to our friendship and our shared businesses. The bond between us is unbreakable, and we are excited for what the future holds," the band members said.

Kenyan fans will get a chance to see them make two landmark performances alongside American R&B legends Boyz II Men on June 10 and 11, 2023, which will be a meeting of musical legends creating an experience that will be etched in the annals of history. This will be followed by an encore performance at the annual Sol Fest in Nairobi on December 16, 2023.

Their tour of the US, Europe and Canada, they noted, promises to be an unforgettable experience, a symphony of nostalgia, gratitude, and good vibes. Don't miss out on the chance to see Sauti Sol at their Farewell Tour on the following dates:

1. 21 May - Atlanta
2. 24 May - Dallas
3. 26 May- Seattle
4. 28 May- Los Angeles
5. 02 June- New York
6. 04 June- Washington DC
7. 16 June- Stockholm
8. 17 June - Oslo
9. 18 June- Copenhagen
10. 20 June - Paris
11. 21 June London
12. 22 June- Bristol
13. 23 June- Sheffield
14. 25 June - Amsterdam
15. 26 June- Hamburg
16. 27 June- Berlin
17. 28 June- Cologne
18. 30 June- Afro Nation, Portugal
19. 01 July - Frankfurt
20. 30 Aug - Montreal
21. 01 September - Toronto
22. 02 September - Calgary
23. 03 September - Vancouver

"Adding to the excitement, Sauti Sol will also be dropping their last album together this year, which promises to be a fitting reflection of their musical journey as a band. Fans can look forward to a new single coming very soon, which will be a taste of what's to come from the band's final album," added the band.

Sauti Sol was formed in 2005 as an acapella group by Baraza, Chimano and Savara, who had met at the Upper Hill High School and performed in Voices in the Light, a music group at the school. They then met guitarist Otieno, who attended Strathmore School, at the Alliance française in Nairobi, where they would frequent and decided to form Sauti (Swahili for "sound") and immediately wrote their first song, "Mafunzo ya Dunia" (lessons of the world), which would later feature in their debut studio album Mwanzo.

The band later added the Spanish word "Sol" (sun) to their name and formed Sauti Sol (supposed to mean "voices in the sun").

In 2006, the band participated in the Spotlight on Kenyan Music competition, hosted by the Alliance française in Nairobi. They were included in the album compilation recording and later got signed to Penya Records.

The four members all completed their university education in Kenya. Baraza studied journalism at the United States International University- Africa (USIU), while Savara studied commerce and finance at Africa Nazarene University.

Chimano studied journalism at the University of Nairobi (UoN), while Otieno studied actuarial science at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).