Five years ago, on June 5, 2020, Kenyan music powerhouse Sauti Sol embarked on a new journey with the release of their album, Midnight Train.
Today, that album stands as a testament to its enduring impact, marking a remarkable milestone of five years and over 500 million streams, solidifying its place as the most-streamed Kenyan album in history.
Sauti Sol, a band that has consistently pushed the boundaries of Afropop, comprises four incredibly talented members: Bien-Aimé Baraza (vocals, guitar, piano), Willis Chimano (baritone, performer, keytar), Savara Mudigi (vocals, record producer, drums, bass guitar), and Polycarp Otieno (guitarist, record producer, composer).
The group’s journey began in 2005 in Nairobi, initially as a cappella trio formed by Bien, Chimano, and Savara, who met at Upper Hill High School. Polycarp Otieno later joined, and together they became Sauti Sol, which means “voices in the sun” (Sauti being Swahili for “voice” and Sol being Spanish for “sun”).
Midnight Train, their fifth studio album, was a groundbreaking project recorded between Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Los Angeles. It features a rich blend of Afropop, soul, and R&B, with notable collaborations that amplified its global appeal. The album boasts contributions from Grammy-winning producer Andre Harris, alongside Polycarp Otieno and Delvin Mudigi.
It features international stars like India Arie on the soulful track “My Everything,” and the electrifying “Disco Matanga (Yambakhana)” with Sho Madjozi and Black Motion, which even became the lead soundtrack for Netflix’s first African original series, Queen Sono. The album’s lyrical depth, delivered in English, Swahili, and Luhya, showcases Sauti Sol’s pan-African vision and cultural richness.
The success of Midnight Train is evident across various streaming platforms. On Spotify, Sauti Sol remains Kenya’s most-followed artist, boasting nearly 1 million monthly listeners and consistently ranking among the top 5 most-streamed artists in the country.
The album alone has garnered over 36 million global streams on Spotify, with its peak in 2024 seeing over 11 million streams. Tracks like “Suzanna” have become continental anthems, racking up over 34 million views on YouTube and 10.5 million streams on Spotify, making it the album’s most-streamed track and the group’s second most streamed song overall after “Melanin” (over 13 million streams). Other fan favorites, such as “Insecure” and “Brighter Days” (featuring the Soweto Gospel Choir), further highlight the album’s versatility.
Beyond the numbers, Midnight Train has resonated deeply with audiences. Platforms like Spotify have noted how the album continues to build momentum, featuring in over 382,000 user-generated playlists worldwide. The album’s release was accompanied by innovative promotional efforts, including a virtual concert, the “Midnight Train Virtual Experience,” which broke records for a local Kenyan artist’s YouTube premiere in August 2020.
Despite their recent decision to embark on an “indefinite hiatus” as a group in May 2023, allowing individual members to pursue solo careers, the legacy of Midnight Train continues to shine.
This hiatus was announced after 18 successful years together, with the band members, including Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano, Savara Mudigi, and Polycarp Otieno, assuring fans that their bond and shared businesses remain intact. As Bien explained in interviews, the break was a collective decision to explore new experiences and challenges after two decades of working together.
Their final performance as a band took place at SolFest in November 2023, a celebration of their extraordinary career. Even with the break, the music of Midnight Train continues to find new listeners, proving its timeless appeal and solidifying Sauti Sol’s position as an African music powerhouse.
by moses sagwe
