Universal Music Group Signs Kenya’s Sauti Sol
Universal Music Africa (UMA), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced the signing of award- winning Kenyan Afro pop band Sauti Sol to an exclusive recording agreement.
The Kenyan Afro-Pop band, comprising of vocalists Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano, Savara Mudigi and guitarist, Polycarp Otieno took to their twitter page to make the announcement; describing the agreement with UMG as their first major deal.
“It’s official! Our first major deal, UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP. Thank you guys for being patient. We really hope y’all ready for the new album.”
Commenting on the agreement, Sipho Dlamini, MD of UMG South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa said:
“We are delighted to announce our partnership with Sauti Sol, one of the most innovative and creative groups to have broken through from Africa in recent years.
“Universal Music Africa is dedicated to helping the best African music talent reach new audiences around the world and we are excited to welcome them to our global UMG family. We look forward to working together with them to ensure they are able to authentically celebrate Africa through music and to help introduce their unique blend Afro-pop to new listeners everywhere.”
The deal with UMG will give the band access to UMG’s global network around the world. It will also allow greater opportunity for the band to reach new audiences globally.
In 2008, the band released their well-received debut studio album, Mwanzo and, Sol Filosofia in 2011. Their music video for the single ‘Coming Home’ was named the Best Music Video award at the Kisima Music Awards – which also earned them the Best Fusion Artist/Group of the Year award.
Their collaboration EP with South African rapper and producer, Spoek Mathambo was released in 2012. The music video for the single ‘Range Rover’ was shot at an old Dutch ammunition factory in Zaandam, Netherlands, which has since become a cultural heritage site.
Live and Die in Afrika, their 2015 third studio album was released for free download for 48 hours, garnering 400,000 downloads at the time.
Having toured successfully across Africa, the US, Europe and Australia, the chart-topping band has received the recognition and respect of both their fans and the industry, taking home international awards including, BET Awards, an MTV EMA for Best African Act and MTV AFRICA Award for Best African Group.
In 2019, the band opened their own record label; Sol Generation Records, with the sole mission of developing and introducing new iconic live African acts.
