Vocalist Willis Chimano recently opened up about the moment Sauti Sol, one of Kenya’s most celebrated boy bands, earned their first million shillings. By that time, the band had already embarked on their first European tour, facilitated by their initial record label. However, the tour, while exciting, didn’t bring in substantial financial gains.
“The value of the deal was in euros, and I think it amounted to about a million shillings at the exchange rate of the time. That was a lot of money for us; we were in our 20s,” Chimano recalls.
Their Humble Beginnings in Europe
After recording their first album, Sauti Sol ventured on a three-month European tour, with Amsterdam as their first stop. Despite the excitement of touring abroad, life wasn’t luxurious.
“We lived on 50 euros a week (about Sh6,800) for the four of us,” Chimano shared. “We’d shop at the cheapest stores and stretch it out to last a whole week.”
Their first performance in Europe was far from glamorous—it took place at a senior care home.
“It was an old people’s home, with many in wheelchairs and walkers. They paid us 100 to 150 euros (Sh14,000 to Sh20,000) per gig. We took it because we were in hustle mode. We knew this was part of the journey to get to the top,” he said.
At the time, Sauti Sol didn’t have any major hits. “We were just an African band that had come to play. We had no big songs yet,” Chimano admitted.
The Turning Point
After returning home in 2009, the band’s fortunes began to change. In 2013, Safaricom launched the Safaricom Twaweza Live campaign, a seven-month initiative that featured concerts across Kenya and aimed to nurture local talent. It was this campaign that catapulted Sauti Sol into financial success.
“When we signed up for Safaricom Live, it changed our lives because of the amount of money we received. That was the first time we saw a few million shillings,” Chimano revealed.
For the first time, the band members started earning salaries. Each member took home Sh150,000, and their label, Sauti Sol Entertainment, was treated as an equal “fifth member.”
“The money came in installments. The first thing I did was buy a car—a cute blue Toyota IST for Sh700,000. I was so proud of myself,” Chimano shared.
Where They Stand Today
After years of dominating the music scene, Sauti Sol is currently on an indefinite hiatus. While their journey is marked by incredible highs and humble beginnings, the band’s story continues to inspire countless musicians across Africa and beyond.
