Celeb Watch

Bien sets record straight on the fate of Sauti Sol and yearly Sol Fest

Lutta Njomo 29th November, 2025 10:22 PM

Multitalented musician and songwriter Bien‑Aimé Baraza, alias Bien, has come out to set the record straight on the fate of the boy band Sauti Sol and their annual Sol Fest concert.

Speaking to a local TV station on Saturday, November 29, 2025, the award-winning musician clarified that Sauti Sol, the popular Kenyan Afro-pop band formed in 2005, is merely on a sabbatical.

“We have never broken up. Sauti Sol said we are taking a sabbatical, and it is very cordial. Si kama group zingine ukiskia watu wamekosana ni mangumi inatembea hapo, hakuna. Ata leo asubuhi nimekuwa rehearsal na Sauti Sol,” Bien stated.

Sol Fest

With Willis Chimano, Savara Mudigi and Polycarp Otieno pursuing different music career paths, Bien hinted that Sol Fest, a music festival dedicated to celebrating and promoting African musical talent, will continue bringing them together once a year to allow their fans to relive the experience.

However, according to Bien, Sol Fest will not be solely about Sauti Sol and their past hit songs. He explained that Sol Fest intends to create a platform where upcoming and veteran artists would come together and entertain Kenyans.

Beyond music, the vocalist indicated that Sol Fest will showcase cultural evolution in the country

“However, every year we have Sol Fest, and we play in that festival. I realised that in playing Sol Fest, we are building a platform for artists to come and express themselves,” Bien explained.

Bien posing for a photo during a past event. PHOTO/@bienaimesol/Instagram

“Sol Fest is a platform that informs the young generation of our cultural heritage and where we are coming from, and it is bigger than Sauti Sol. It is a platform for us to see our culture and its evolution. Every year, I put a veteran and those of this generation, then Sauti Sol tunawasindikiza tu,” he further remarked.

“It is not about us. So Sol Fest is the place for you to come and see your culture.”

Kenyans will have a say

Going forward, Bien envisioned a scenario in which Kenyans would have a final say on who would play at Sol Fest and what would be showcased on that stage annually.

“Over the next few years, I want us to make this festival about Kenyans. I want you to curate this festival. What I can promise is that what will be on stage will be a world-class production.”