KOT react after Sauti Sol’s announcement on separate VIP and Fans shows
Sauti Sol recently announced that they will be taking an indefinite hiatus from the music scene after their world tour, and dropping their last album at the end of this year has left their Kenyan fans in disarray.
The four-man band, who have been on a final tour in the US, Europe and Canada in “celebration of their remarkable journey” before each member takes some time to work on personal endeavours will in November have two different shows in Nairobi.
Also read: Bien: Sauti Sol has lasted longer than your Kanairo marriages
The award-winning group will have the ‘VIP Show’ and ‘Fan Show’, with the former being on November 2 and the latter being on November 4.
The group did not particularly state what the disparities between the two shows will entail.
The Kenyan group has won several local and international awards over their 18-year-long career, among them the Best African Act at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards.
In 2021, Sauti Sol received a Grammy certificate for the group’s feature on Nigerian artist Burna Boy’s album “Twice as Tall”, which won the Global Music Album award.
The group which comprises vocalists Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano, Savara Mudigi and guitarist Polycarp Otieno, last year was forced to apologise during their annual Sol Fest following public uproar over their short-lived performance during the 2022 second edition, all while promising “a better next time.”
Also read: How Sauti Sol assaulted a fan for attacking gay band member Chimano
The annual festival, which Sauti Sol and Sol Generation convene, took place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on the evening of December 17.
Concertgoers expressed their disappointment online, lamenting that the quartet, being the night’s main act, mismanaged their time on stage.
In a press release, the team defended the outcome, saying that their goal was to warrant adequate time for every performer.
“Solfest was conceptualized as a showcase for musicians and businesses within Sol Generation’s core values- Discipline, Order, Passion and Excellence (D.O.P.E), and is intended to serve as a platform not just for Sauti Sol and Sol Generation artists, but for a variety of talented African musicians.”
Last time they performed in Kenya was alongside American R&B legends Boyz II Men on June 10 at Uhuru Gardens, also marred by hiccups.
On the other hand, Kenyans have labelled the upcoming shows the haves and have-nots.
Also read: Tedd Josiah: No one will remember Sauti Sol in 20 years
Here are a few reactions from KOT.
This government is doing so bad hadi wanafanya Sauti Sol waweke show za haves and have not, never witnessed that under Kababa 😂 pic.twitter.com/NvC4hAR4m2
— Aleckie Ronald (@SirAlexas) July 24, 2023
Sauti sol SolFest Fans show vs VIP Show #SOLFest2023 pic.twitter.com/iNeIhnWBN9
— Don Pappi (@_ngatia_) July 25, 2023
Sauti Sol upcoming event has just reminded of apartheid in SA where blacks were required to live in separate areas from whites and use separate public facilities, and contact between the two groups would be limited but in the case the difference is financial status pic.twitter.com/yz1dnuF4fi
— Mistress 👄🍷❤️🇺🇬🇰🇪 (@Asswetoo) July 25, 2023
Yani sauti sol wameamua kuseparate the rich and the poor hivo tu am not happy
— LATE CUMMER™🎣 (@CNairobian1_) July 24, 2023
Sauti Sol were like kuna event ya Rich fans na Poor fans. I truly understand…
— Sir-Rap-A-Lot (@Osama_otero) July 24, 2023
Sauti Sol wangefanya fan show before VIP so that they use it as a final rehearsal 😂
— Mwang! (@Mwass_) July 24, 2023
Also read: None is replaceable! Bien credits the success of Sauti Sol on each member