Sauti Sol, the award-winning Kenyan band, is unarguably one of the most influential music groups in Kenya’s music industry. The band, formed in 2005, is made up of four members – Bien-Aime Baraza, Willis Austin Chimano, Savara Mudigi, and Polycarp Otieno. Sauti Sol have released 5 albums together and several solo projects. In 2009, their debut album Mwanzo was released to much acclaim from fans. With songs like Lazizi and Blue Uniform, the album remains many fans’ favorite album from the band.

The second album Sol Folosofia was released in 2011 followed by Live and Die in Afrika, Afrikan Sauce and Midnight Train in 2015, 2019, and 2020 respectively. In 2012, the group released a self-title extended play (EP) produced by South African rapper Spoek Mathambo.

Collaboration

The band has collaborated with many local and international artists. Locally they have released music with artists such as Amos and Josh, Aaron Rimbui, Khaligraph Jones, Nyashinski, Nviiri, Mejja, Bensoul, Matata and many others. Internationally, Sauti Sol have projects with Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Yemi Alade and Patoranking, to mention some. They have released music with American artist India Arie, Tanzanian Vanessa Mdee, South African musicians Sun-El, Sho Madjozi and many others.

Screenshot from Sauti Sol’s Suzanna music video. | Image: Sol Generation

In 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the band went on a break to work on solo projects under the ‘Alone Together’  mantle. Each Sauti Soul worked on self-growth while still being together. Their alone time is nearly at an end with new projects slated for 2023 and beyond. As we await new projects by Sauti Sol, let’s reminisce on some of our favorite Sauti Sol songs through the years. You can also stream the playlist on YouTube and Spotify. Click on any song to skip to that section.

Top 15 Sauti Sol songs.

  1. Melanin – with Patoranking
  2. Blue Uniform
  3. Short N Sweet – with Nyashinski
  4. Kuliko Jana -with Aaron Rimbui
  5. Africa – with Yemi Alade
  6. Nenda Lote
  7. Suzanna
  8. Still the One
  9. Sura Yako
  10. Money Lover
  11. Awinja
  12. Lazizi
  13. Nishike
  14. Insecure
  15. Rhumba Japani -with Bensoul, Xenia Manasseh, Nviiri, Okello Max, and NHP

1.Melanin

2.Blue Uniform

3.Short N Sweet – with Nyashinski

4.Kuliko Jana – with Aaron Rimbui

5.Africa – with Yemi Alade

6.Nenda Lote

7.Suzanna

8. Still the One

9. Sura Yako

10. Money Lover

11. Awinja

12. Lazizi

13. Nishike

14. Insecure

15. Rhumba Japani -with Bensoul, Xenia Manasseh, Nviiri, Okello Max, and NHP

Sauti Sol