After the unexpected breakup of Sauti Sol, arguably Kenya’s biggest musical export. It appears that Kenyans as a collective have decided to lay the burden of putting Kenyan music on the map on the shoulders of Bien-Aime Alusa Baraza popularly known as Bien.
Some have argued that the success of Bien as a solo artist is a testament to the fact that it was Bien who in fact carried and made the group Sauti Sol successful. We, as Radio 254, however, disagree with these sentiments and think that if you look at all Sauti Sol’s members as individuals, you can see the value that each brought to the group.
As of April 23rd, 2025, however, it is clear for the world to see that currently Bien is miles ahead of both his former Sauti Sol band mates as well as the entire Kenyan music industry. If anything, the entire Kenyan music industry is looking up to Bien to help putting Kenyan music on the map. Whereas Bien is a great candidate for putting Kenyan music on the global stage, we as Kenyans are putting a lot of unnecessary pressure on Bien to do the job that should not be done by one individual but an entire team, ecosystem, industry or country.
Bien himself has said in an interview that he does not want that pressure. The pressure being referred to here is the pressure of being the chosen one. Right now, Kenyans have decided without consulting or asking Bien that Bien will be the one to take Kenyan music to where Burna Boy has taken Nigeria music. If there is anyone who can do it is Bien but still it is an unfair expectation. We know Bien can do it but don’t agree or think that Bien should do it alone. Why not spread the pressure around and challenge Maandy, Sabi Wu, Otile Brown and Breeder to all also do the same?
Kenyan music needs a savior, but that savior is definitely not going to be an individual. Even Jesus did not achieve everything on his own, he had disciples. So maybe on his journey or Safari, Bien brings along a few other Kenyan artists. Heck imagine a world tour with Bien, Charisma, Njerae, Buruklyn Boyz, Kethan, Le Laika and Watendawili. Kenya has so many talented artists, we think that we need to give Bien a break and put the same pressure on other Kenyan artists to do what Bien is doing. Where is Wakadinali? Can they help? Can we put some pressure on Fancy Fingers, Savara and Chimano as solo acts as well to step up and help with the mission that we seem to be sending Bien on his own. At the end of the day, Bien is very talented, and nobody can take that away from him. What we would like is for Kenyans to take some of the pressure from Bien and give that some pressure to other Kenyan artists who are equally as talented. We don’t want to just see Bien at the top, we want to see multiple Kenyan artists on the world stage. If Nigeria has Burna, Omalay, Wizkid, Rema and Davido, why should we only have or bank on Bien? Let us all kindly put some thought into this. Bien is a brilliant artist and one of the best to ever do it, but Bien cannot and will not be able to do it on his own. Bien needs more artists to help him. We need diversity and different artists from Kenya winning. There is nothing worse than having one person out of a whole country or team that is winning. We want Bien to win. We believe he has what it takes to win. We just think that we need to take the pressure off Bien, give that pressure to more Kenyan artists and then support all Kenyan artists doing their thing. Please support Bien on his world tour, help him get to 1 million followers on all his platforms and keep streaming his music just don’t expect him alone to do the work that an entire industry should be doing. He is only human and honestly is only responsible for putting himself on.
Bien has already done his part. Other artists and Kenyans now need to do theirs. Bien can and is putting Kenyan music on the map, we just can’t expect him to single handedly save Kenyan music. That is not his job. Allow him to keep creating and giving us hits. Wake everybody else that is sleeping up so that can do their part and help in the mission that is not Bien to the world but Kenya to the world. Bien is currently Kenya’s ambassador for Kenyan music and we need to help him not just expect him.
Get your tickets to see Bien on his US Tour here: https://www.dukeconcept.com/bien
On April 17, 2025, Kenyan artist Charisma, known offstage as Fidel, shared a heartfelt moment that resonated deeply with his fans and the creative community at large. In a tweet that quickly gained traction, Charisma posted a screenshot of a message from his mother, whom he has saved as "Mum Safcom." The message read: “My son Fidel, I really wanted to be there as history is made—your first international performance […]
