NEW YORK/NAIROBI – Celebrated Kenyan artist Bien-Aimé Baraza, a member of the acclaimed Sauti Sol, recently offered his candid perspective on Kenya’s controversial bid to host the Grammy Awards during an interview on the renowned American radio show, The Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM. Bien acknowledged the public outcry while steadfastly defending the long-term benefits for the Kenyan music industry.
The discussion on the popular New York-based show touched upon the significant financial commitment, with reports indicating figures around $3.8 million for the bid. This figure sparked considerable public debate in Kenya, particularly given prevailing economic challenges.
Bien conceded that the timing of the news was “very bad because at that time economically and even now we’re not doing so well as a country.” He admitted that “a $3.8 million spend on the Grammys feels like an impulse spend to the people.”
However, the artist strongly advocated for the initiative, emphasizing his perspective as an industry insider. He believes “not a lot of people have the insights of the music business to understand the value of the Grammys coming to Kenya.”
When asked why he agreed with the bid despite the public sentiment, Bien’s answer was clear: “.. cuz I’m an artist and I understand what it’s going to do for my constituency, for my people. like this is the future, you know investments for the artists who are coming (up) you know they’re going to thank us one day for hosting the Grammys in Kenya.”
He attributed much of the backlash to a lack of proper communication from the onset. “Maybe the communication behind it should have been better,” he suggested. “Maybe they should have been told about the financial gains… and what we stand to gain as a country and this and this and this and many people would have been like okay We see it.”
Bien also underscored the less obvious, yet equally vital, aspects that a Grammy presence would bring, including “the development programs for the different facets of the music industry that the Grammy comes with as well, right? Yeah. You know, the Grammy is like a good artist development program as well, second to church.”
Bien’s comments on The Breakfast Club offer a valuable artist’s perspective, emphasizing the long-term vision for creative development that such an international partnership could foster, even as the details and communication surrounding the initial announcement continue to be debated.
