Nominated Senator Crystal Asige has urged the High Court to compel the popular Kenyan music group Sauti Sol and its affiliated parties to compensate her for alleged breach of contract concerning hit songs such as Lenga, Extravaganza, Ukiwa Mbali, Intro, and Favourite Song from 2019.
Asige, a visually impaired songwriter, performer, and producer, claims her contributions to these songs were not properly compensated, and she seeks full disclosure of earnings from these tracks.
Asige, who was once signed to Sol Generation Records, the label associated with Sauti Sol, has named several individuals and entities in the suit, including Sol Generation Records Limited, band members Bien-Aime Baraza, Polycarp Otieno, Willis Chimano, Delvin Mudigi, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Kenya.
In her testimony before Justice Njoki Mwangi, Asige claimed she was not informed or compensated for her role in the creation and performance of the songs mentioned, despite her substantial involvement.
In her evidence, Asige recounted how she was approached in 2018 by Bien-Aime Baraza while living in Mombasa.
She was invited to join the label, and as the only female and disabled artist, she contributed significantly to the production of songs that became commercially successful.
Asige asserts that she co-wrote, arranged, and performed background vocals on several tracks including Extravaganza and Ukiwa Mbali.
She also claims to have co-composed the song Lenga, which was released on KLM’s Facebook platform without her consent.
Furthermore, Asige is particularly aggrieved by the use of her composition Intro, which she alleges was recorded and released as part of Sauti Sol’s Midnight Train album without her permission.
She claims her work was credited under her name but without her knowledge or authorization.
The crux of Asige’s legal complaint revolves around an alleged agreement in which she was told that her music, especially Lenga, would be protected under her rights.
She was reportedly informed that Sol Generation was financially strained and could no longer continue with her under the label, but it was agreed that she would retain full rights over her recordings.
Asige claims that despite these assurances, her music was still used without her consent, including a substantial payment of approximately Sh5 million from KLM for the use of Lenga.
In addition to financial compensation, Asige is asking the court to order Sauti Sol to release all licensing information related to the songs she is claiming ownership of and to disclose how much revenue the group has generated from them.
The defendants in the case, including Sauti Sol’s members and their label, have denied all allegations and have asked the court to dismiss Asige’s claims.
Sauti Sol, known for its hit songs like Melanin and Short and Sweet, has been a dominant force in the Kenyan music scene.
However, this lawsuit brings to light issues regarding artist compensation, rights, and the transparency of record label dealings.
Asige’s case could set an important precedent in the music industry, particularly in protecting the rights of artists, including those with disabilities.
