Nominated Senator Crystal Asige has filed a lawsuit against Sauti Sol and their record label, Sol Generation, accusing them of exploiting her disability for financial gain and violating her intellectual property rights.
Asige claims that her contributions to five songs, including Extravaganza and 1919 to Forever, were misappropriated without proper compensation or contract.
Asige testified at the High Court this week, detailing her experience with the label. She said she was hired under an Artist Development Agreement but was reluctant to sign a 360 recording deal, seeking legal advice on what she felt were exploitative terms. Despite persistent requests for a meeting to discuss her concerns, the meeting with Sauti Sol members never took place, she claimed.
Instead, she says Sol Generation continued to present her as a signed artist, using her image and disability as part of their marketing strategy.
“I was the only female and the only person with a disability in the group, which they used to garner public support,” she explained.
Crystal Asige Says she was called “The Weakest Link”
In 2019, Asige was dismissed from the label in a meeting with Sol Generation’s legal counsel, Moriasi Omambia, and Sauti Sol’s Bien-Aimé Baraza. The reasons given for her dismissal were contradictory. Bien-Aimé reportedly called her the “weakest” in terms of performance, and as an artiste.
“But at the same time, he said I was amazing at songwriting. I was also told by Moriasi Omambia that the reason they were dismissing me was that they were broke and they could not afford to have as many artists as they started with at the beginning of the year.” She testified.
“They also said they did not believe I was ready and many other reasons that were cited. It was not clear. There wasn’t one pinpoint, it seemed to be whatever was thrown on the wall, whatever would stick.”
Asige also alleges that her solo song Lenga and contributions to Extravaganza were used without her consent, and that a KSh 5 million deal made on her behalf was never honored. She claims she was credited as a co-writer but received no royalties.
Sol Generation has denied the accusations. In his written statement, Omambia stated that Asige was treated with care and respect, and that her disability was never exploited for profit.
Asige is seeking compensation and transparency from the label regarding the revenue generated by her music.
By Vivian K.