7 things you probably don’t know about supergroup Sauti Sol

The award-winning afro-pop band Sauti Sol hails from Nairobi, Kenya and have been topping the charts for more than a decade. Long-time friends Polycarp Otieno, Savara Mudigi, Willis Chimano and Bien-Aime Baraza, cemented their place as one of the leading bands from the continent and the upward trajectory fuelled by their ‘church of good vibes’ ethos won them fans all over the world. This list looks at some surprising facts you may…or may not know about the globally renowned supergroup and its members as revealed in their hit reality TV show Sol Family.

1. Savara Mudigi was once a professional dancer

One of the first things we learn on the reality TV show Sol Family is that member Savara Mudigi once worked as a professional dancer, with one of the people he danced for being Kenyan gospel musician Daddy Owen. In a dose of comedic relief — which the show has plenty of because of the amazing chemistry between Sauti Sol — we also learn that he has two left feet! “Your body is not doing what it [thought it was] able to do, even without activating — but we are all trying — but Savara know[s] struggle, but we are all trying”, muses fellow band member Willis Chimano about Savara’s dancing in a confessional interview.

2. Not all Sauti Sol members were born ready for the spotlight

“Sugar spice and everything nice but Professor Utonium added an extra ingredient, chemical x”, expresses Bien-Aime Baraza speaking about fellow group member Willis Chimano. And when you see Chimano perform, you understand completely why he earned his nickname. Captivating and full of je ne sais quoi, it’s hard to believe that Chimano hasn’t always felt at home on the stage as he was an incredibly shy and reserved kid growing up as he shares in one of the episodes, “I was very shy, quiet, very to myself”.

3. Upper Hill School is where it all came together

During high school Chimano changed schools, moving from the provincial school he was enrolled in, to Upper Hill School where he met Bien-Aime in class. Had this change of school not happened then who knows, perhaps Sauti Sol may not exist. Or in the very least it wouldn’t exist as we know it now, and Chemical X — Chimano — would not be part of it. A travesty!

4. Two of Sauti Sol’s group members are actually related

Do you want to try and guess who? It’s Bien-Aime Baraza and Willis Chimano! The two found out after Chimano moved to Upper Hill School that they were in fact cousins — distant cousins, yes — but cousins nonetheless.

5. Polycarp Otieno wanted to be a doctor while growing up

Although his love and passion for music have always run deep even as a child — as he shares with us in episode one, “I used to have a small keyboard in the house, I used to play the whole day, music and art were what was really driving me”, growing up Polycarp initially wanted to be a doctor. Aside from being really gifted at math and science, the society he grew up in also viewed pursuing a musical career in a negative light. Thankfully, in the end, music ended up winning the ultimate battle.

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6. One of the members performed for former Vice President George Saitoti in high school

During his high school years at Saint Patrick’s, Bien-Aime used to act in plays and was incredibly talented at it. Former Vice President of Kenya George Saitoti even went to watch one of the performances at his high school where Bien-Aime won the Best Actor award.

7. Savara Mudigi’s mom and dad were big early musical influences in his life

“My mom influenced me, I used to go to church with her. My mom used to play a lot of gospel music, reggae music and my dad used to play a lot of reggae music and Lingala …even how I sing, you can tell I have a very African Lingala way of interpreting my notes”, Savara shares with us during one of his confessional interviews in Sol Family. Sauti Sol is beloved across the world for their distinct sound and it was rather heartwarming to learn that parts of what makes them special to the world, were gifts given to the members by their parents growing up.

Catch Sauti Sol on their hit reality TV show here!