Bien-Aimé Baraza
Bien-Aimé Baraza | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bien-Aimé Alusa Baraza 28 December 1987 Nairobi, Kenya. |
| Citizenship | Kenyan |
| Alma mater | Upper Hill School United States International University |
| Years active | 2005-present |
| Known for | Sauti Sol
Songwriting Singing |
| Style | Afropop |
| Height | 1.91 - 1.93m |
| Spouse | Chiki Kuruka (married 2020-present) |
Bien-Aimé Alusa Baraza, popularly known as Bien, is a Kenyan musician and music executive. He is a member of Sauti Sol, a Kenyan Afropop music band.
Early life
Bien attended Upper Hill School, Nairobi. In 2007, he was involved in a car accident that made Sauti Sol members decide to pursue music together.[1]
Career
Sauti Sol
In December 2023, the band announced that it would be performing together for the last time at sol festival in Nairobi.[2]
Solo career (2019 to present)
In 2021, Sol Generation Records announced that Bien was signed to the label.[3]
He also released his EP, Bald Men Love Better, which featured Aaron Rimbui. The EP included 6 songs, ‘Bald Men Anthem' ,'Stamina' ,'Coming Home' ,'Reset Rewind' and 'Mbwe Mbwe'. All were coproduced by Bien and Aaron.[4]
Bien's solo career started with the release of songs such as Dimension, Inauma and Mbwembwe.
In March 2023, Spotify listed Bien as the most followed artist on the platform. His song, Inauma was also the most streamed Kenyan song on the platform[5]
In 2023, Bien released his debut solo album, Alusa Why Are You Topless? The 16-track album included collaborations with Ayra Starr, Ms. Banks and Scar Mkadinali.[6]
In 2023, he became the fourth Kenyan artist to be featured on the COLORSxSTUDIOS, where he performed True Love[7]
In 2024, Bien had a Europe tour.[8]
In 2024, Bien released “Alusa Why Are You Topless (Deluxe)” version. It included 5 tracks like Ma Cherie remix featuring Fally Ipupa, Wahala featuring Adekunle Gold[9] In 2024, Bien was the most streamed artist in Kenya on Spotify. [10]
Musical style
Bien's music includes political and social views as well as challenges status quo.[11] Songs such as Maandamano (which translates to Protest in English) with Kenyan rapper Breeder highlights the issues affecting Kenyans[12]
Bien is an Afropop artist, who fuses rhumba with different sounds including afrobeats and Amapiano[13]
Activism
Bien has publicly criticized the Music Copyright Society of Kenya for poor royalty pay for Kenyan artists. In 2023, he declined the organisation's invite to collect his royalties and stated it as a publicity stunt from MCSK's end.[14]
In 2023 Bien expressed his support for the LGBTQ community, following the ruling by the Kenya Supreme Court that the Kenyan authorities were wrong for banning the gay community from registering their rights[15]
Awards and recognition
Bien won a Grammy Award for song writing on Burna Boy's album, Twice As Tall, which won the best global music album.[16] In 2025, Bien won a Trace Award for Best Artist in Eastern Africa [17]
Other ventures
All members of Sauti Sol together own Sol Generation Records. Each of them is signed to the record label as a solo artist.[18]
He also cofounded Hustle Sasa, a platform that allows artists and vendors to sell their products, including merchandise and music, directly to the market.[19][20]
He is also a co-founder of Sol Kids, which produces content for children including books.[21]
Bien sits on the board of the Recording Industry of Kenya (RIKE), a not-for-profit organization registered in Kenya that aims to promote the interests of producers and sound recorders in Kenya.[22]
In 2022, Bien opened his nightclub, Manhattan Ke Bar and Grill, located in Nairobi.[23]
Personal life
Bien is married to Chiki Kuruka, who is also his manager.[24]
References
- ^ Zawadi, Rajab (13 March 2023). "Sauti Sol's Bien: Music paid my entire university fees". Nairobi News. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ Kimuyu, Hilary. "'Last Dance': 17 years in the making as Sauti Sol says adios". ntv. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Ikahu, Susan (5 November 2021). "Bien signs Ksh.50 million deal with Sol Generation, a record label he helped found". Citizen Digital. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Lauryn (5 November 2021). "Bien Releases 'Bald Men Love Better' EP Featuring Aaron Rimbui". NOTJUSTOK. NOT JUST OK. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Gachie, Kenneth (28 April 2023). "Bien-Aimé Baraza: The making of a Kenyan rockstar". Citizen Digital. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Gachie, Kenneth (17 November 2023). "'Alusa Why Are You Topless?' Bien finally drops debut solo album". Citizen Digital. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Gachie, Kenneth (7 November 2023). "Sauti Sol's Bien becomes fourth Kenyan artiste to be featured on COLORS Studios". Citizen Digital. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Gachie, Kenneth (7 March 2024). "Bien lands in Paris as his much-anticipated Europe tour kicks off". Citizen Digital. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Opondo, Agnes (24 July 2024). "MusicBien Pushes Creative Boundaries In "Alusa Why Are You Topless (Deluxe)"". KENYANVIBE. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Opondo, Sophie (2024-12-09). "Bien dethrones Wakadinali as Spotify's Top Kenyan Artist of 2024". TV47 Digital. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ Okumu, Lynet. "Beyond beats: Why Bien's voice will always echo in your mind". Pulselive Kenya. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ Marion, Jones. "Bien and Breeder LW release song titled Maandamano". CLASSIC FM. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Arudo, Otieno (26 May 2023). "What Next For Sauti Sol: Bien". KENYAN VIBE. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Munene, Cynthia (29 February 2024). "Why I turned down MCSK invite to collect my royalties - Bien". Citizen Digital. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ petra, Hannie. "Why Sauti Sol's Bien fully supports LGBTQ community". KISSFM. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Njeri (17 March 2021). "Bien, Bensoul Named Grammy Award-Winning Songwriters". KENYANVIBE. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Nzyoka, Nzula (2025-02-27). "Bien wins Trace award in Zanzibar". KBC Digital. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ Matiko, Sinda (5 January 2024). "Sauti Sol: From band to group of businesses". Business Daily. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "Musician's app helps Kenyan creatives sell music and merchandise". Citizen Digital. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "App by Grammy-nominated musician helps Kenyan creatives sell music and merchandise". news24. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Patience, Tamarah. "Sauti Sol ventures into comic books". The Standard. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Gachie, Kenneth (10 October 2023). "RIKE, new association aimed at bolstering Kenyan music, brings on board Sauti Sol's Bien". Citizen Digital. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Wambua, Janet (2 August 2022). "Sauti Sol's Bien ventures into business, opens new pub". Citizen Digital. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Wafula, Linda (3 May 2024). "Chiki Celebrates One Year of Managing Bien". KENYANVIBE. Retrieved 1 August 2024.