Sauti Sol's “Nishike” reaches a million views on YouTube

The video, which was released in April 2014, becomes the group's first to reach the milestone. Despite initially drawing considerable criticism for its heavy sexual content,“Nishike” has been hugely successful and instrumental in the recent success of the Kenyan outfit.

In the past few months, the Nairobi-based band has won several awards including the coveted Best African Act 2014 MTV EMA, the Museke Online Africa Music Award (best group), the Artist of the Year award (Kenya) and the Best Use of Social Media award (Kenya).  “Nishike” was also nominated at the 2014 Channel O Music Video Awards for the Most Gifted Music Video from East Africa.

The video for “Nishike” was directed by Enos Olik of Bokeh Family with Marvine Obaga in the assistant director role. Prolific Kenyan producer Kagwe Mungai produced the single.

Sauti Sol comprises members Bien Aime Baraza (vocals and guitar); Polycarp Otieno (guitar); Willis Austin Chimano (vocals, saxophone and guitar) and Delvin Mudigi (vocals, percussion and drums).

Sauti Sol was formed in 2005, starting off as an a-Capella group. Bien, Chimano and Delvin previously met in Upper Hill High School where they performed in Voices in the Light, a high school music group. After that stint, the trio met guitarist Polycarp at Alliance Française, where they would frequent and decided to form Sauti (Swahili for 'voice') and immediately wrote their first song, 'Mafunzo ya Dunia' (Life's Lessons) that would later feature in their first album, 'Mwanzo' (Swahili for 'beginning'), which was released in August, 2009. Their sophomore album, Sol Filosofia, was released in February, 2011. Sauti Sol is planning to release a third album this year.

For more information about Sauti Sol, visit their profile on the Music In Africa portal here.