Sauti Sol vocalist Bien Baraza directly confronted comedian Jalang’o over allegations that the band ignored Kenya’s music industry struggles, calling the claims misguided and highlighting 2019 efforts to address systemic challenges.
Jalang’o, a prominent radio presenter, had accused Sauti Sol of failing to support local artists, a charge Baraza denied. During an interview, he stated, "Jalang’o is the biggest letdown," emphasizing the band’s behind-the-scenes work. "I would expect him to investigate before making public accusations," Baraza added.
Baraza referenced the Kenya Writers Association, launched in 2019 to improve artist conditions, and announced Sol Generations, a new label aimed at reforming the industry’s organizational structure. "Labels have failed due to poor management, but we’ve been working for a year to approach this differently," he said.
The exchange occurred amid ongoing debates about unequal airplay for Kenyan and Nigerian artists. Baraza urged Jalang’o to address issues privately, invoking a Kenyan proverb: "Don’t fix your brother’s collar in public." The 2012 copyright notice for The Kenyan DAILY POST appears in the original source material.
