Sauti Sol, one of Africa’s most popular boy bands, announced their break-up in August 2023.
The devastation that faced many Africans could be seen on the Instagram post of the break-up.
This was the boy group that had been singing for 20 years.
Sauti Sol had collaborated with the likes of Wiz kid, Burna Boy, Sho Majozi among many other African singers.
This announcement came several months after one of the band members; Bien Aime Baraza opened his restaurant.
Bien, the lead singer of the group showed his business side through Manhattan Ke Bar and Grill, a high-end restaurant on the rooftop of one of Nairobi’s new malls.
The Manhattan, a popular nightclub located at Imaara Mall along Mombasa Road, is patronized by many Kenyan celebrities and their fans making it one of the places to sample on any long night of fun.
Manhattan: What’s with the name?
During the Manhattan Bar and Grill launch, Bien stated that this business was inspired by a night in New York.
After a Sauti Sol performance, they attended an after-party at an entertainment joint in Manhattan, whose styling and general vibe inspired that of the restaurant.
He also added that being paid to perform or just patronize other restaurants made him feel that his relationship with entertainment spots had become more transactional than fun.
Manhattan would be a place where he could freely have fun with friends just for fun’s sake besides offering Nairobi residents a cool nightclub experience.
Business Inspiration
Bien admits that his business inspiration comes from American billionaire wrapper, Jay-Z and how he balances a busy entrepreneurial life with a vibrant music career.
He also states that besides venturing into the hospitality industry with the restaurant, he’s had quite an experience with other businesses especially in collaboration with his band members.
One of their biggest businesses is the collaboration with Pace Africa for headphone and earphone pieces in a 2021 deal.
He admits that being in business was a way to escape and stay away from the poverty matrix.
During his childhood, his parents at one point lost most of their wealth and they had to move from a wealthy neighborhood to the outskirts of the city into a house with no electricity, and no running water.
Even as a big music artist, Bien is embarking on other businesses to diversify his portfolio and enhance his financial security.
Business Partners
The lead singer admits that just like it’s always been with Sauti Sol music, the Manhattan Bar & Grill is not a solo project.
To realize the restaurant business, he partnered with two friends who are also his former university classmates and with whom they attended that after-party in Manhattan.
After attending the United States International University (USIU), and graduating in 2011, they remained in touch.
Additionally, one of the partners runs a club and therefore he’s brought in some entrepreneurial skills to run Manhattan.
Challenges
As a celebrity, having many fans means you are put on a different pedestal.
Investing in Manhattan reminded the singer that people had expectations.
He had to ensure everything was in order because that’s what many people would be looking for.
He emphasized that the restaurant was also a way to connect with some of his fans and so he knew he had to outdo himself, delaying the opening by over a month to recruit the best service providers.
As Sauti Sol embarks on their solo journeys maybe we might expect more business ventures from the rest of the band.
Should we watch out for Polycarp, Savara, and Chimano to see their next ventures outside music?
I think we should.
