Tedd Josiah: No one will remember Sauti Sol in 20 years
Music producer now turned entrepreneur Tedd Josiah believes, “In 20 years’ time, Sauti Sol will have been forgotten.”
Probably borrowing from his own experience, legendary music producer Josiah believes the boy’s band will be invisible in two decades to come.
This is because the governments of the past and current have never made any meaningful efforts to preserve the Kenyan music culture and those who have influenced it over time.
Also read: Bien: Sauti Sol has lasted longer than your Kanairo marriages
“The boys are doing good right now, but I can assure you in 20 years no one will be talking about them. They will have been completely forgotten.
You know why, because, as a country, we don’t do enough to preserve our own music culture and legacy,” Josiah affirms.
He added, “In other countries, you will encounter culture centers that tell stories of their music legacies. We no longer speak of Fundi Konde, and Daudi Kabaka, all these were great artists, but there is nothing to show off their journey. Nobody talks of us now. The same will happen to Sauti Sol in future
Josiah ruled the airwaves in the 90 and early 2000s, producing some of the most memorable hit songs of the time.
The 53-year-old produced a body of work with notable names such as Necessary Noize (Nazizi, Bamzigi and Wyre), Poxi Pressure, Susanna Owinyo, Krupt, Nameless, and Hardstone to mention a few.
Also read: Sauti Sol’s Bien: Music paid my entire university fees
But even after three decades of producing over 100 hits, Jossiah says music has never rewarded him as it should.
“I have never earned any royalty from the music I produced. We have failed systems that only benefit a few individuals. The collective Management organizations (CMO) supposed to be acting on artists and producers’ behalf are nothing but a scam. They collect our money as royalties and award themselves the biggest share. Ezekiel Mutua, who is in charge of MCSK, and all his processors have all failed,” he said.
“So I thought to myself, why continue hitting the studio to make another hit just to benefit someone else. It’s of no point. That’s the reason I quit producing music,” he adds.
Despite Josiah’s concerns, Sauti Sol has significantly impacted the Kenyan music industry and continues to dominate the airwaves with their music.
However, Josiah’s words serve as a reminder that the country must do more to preserve its rich musical heritage and honor the artists who have contributed to it.
Also read: Why Bensoul is parting ways with Sauti Sol