Universal Music Africa (UMA), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG) has signed an exclusive recording deal with award-winning Kenyan Afro-Pop collective Sauti Sol.
The band is comprised of vocalists Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano, Savara Mudigi and guitarist, Polycarp Otieno.
The agreement will give the band access to UMG’s global network around the world, and will allow greater opportunity for the band to reach new audiences globally.
The band released their debut studio album, Mwanzo in 2008, followed by, Sol Filosofia in 2011, which amassed multiple accolades in the form of awards and nominations.
The music video for the single Coming Home earned them the Best Music Video award at the Kisima Music Awards, as well as, 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 in that period alone.
Having toured across Africa, the US, Europe and Australia, the band has won awards at the likes of the BET Awards, an MTV EMA for Best African Act and an MTV AFRICA Award for Best African Group.
Last year the band started their own record label; Sol Generation Records.
“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.”
Sipho Dlamini, UMG South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa
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.”
Pictured, Back Row: Sipho Dlamini
Pictured, Front Row [Left to Right]: Polycarp Otieno, Bien-Aimé Baraza, Adam Granite, Delvin Mudigi, Andrew Kronfeld, Willis Austin ChimanoMusic Business Worldwide
