Willis Chimano Moves Past His Sauti Sol Roots with One-Man Show ‘Heavy Is the Crown’

"I was physically shaking. I had forgotten my script. I was like, 'Oh my God!' I was really freaking out," he told OkayAfrica in an interview.

It may seem surprising that he felt so nervous, given his long career as a founding member of Sauti Sol, the Kenyan band that helped redefine pop music in East Africa. Over 17 years, Sauti Sol became one of Africa's most celebrated acts. Known for their rich harmonies, genre-blending sound, and standout fashion, the group built a strong following and earned major awards across the continent and beyond.

It is not hyperbole to say that Chimano is an icon.

But when the group announced an indefinite hiatus in 2023, Chimano generally chose to step away from the public eye. The time off became a period of deep reflection, marked by therapy, silence, and self-work.

"I have been resting, restoring, replenishing, and taking some time out for myself and to figure out how to work this new chapter of my life," he says. "I didn't want to go back immediately into the rat race of what it all was. I just wanted to take a step back, because the band [had] been together since high school."

His one-man show, Heavy is the Crown, is the first time that many fans are seeing Chimano onstage alone. But for him, standing solo on stage was unfamiliar and deeply personal, primarily because of what he had to say.

With the show's debut in Adelaide, it was the first time he spoke about his life coming of age as part of one of the continent's biggest bands, while also reflecting on his personal experiences as a gay man in Africa. By the time he came off stage in Adelaide, he felt immense relief.

"I think I even cried on stage. It was such a healing moment," he explains. "It was the first time, so it was still very fresh. But I just needed to do it. I just needed to throw myself into the deep end."

The show blends storytelling with songs from his debut solo EP of the same name, reflecting on the emotional weight he carried throughout his career as a queer man in a group that projected heteronormativity, and on the personal growth that followed the band's pause.

That honesty involves revisiting the most formative and painful parts of his life. Onstage, he speaks openly about his time in Sauti Sol, the pressure to conform, and how he's learning to embrace all parts of himself. Chimano now openly embraces his queer identity and is learning how to navigate it as one of the most visibly queer public figures in a country where the LGBTQIA+ community is generally tolerated, but not always accepted.

That visibility has come at a cost. When his sexuality became public, Chimano was met with intense scrutiny. He recalled people saying they could no longer listen to Sauti Sol's music and admitted to initially confronting critics in the comments. Over time, he worked through the anger, choosing instead to focus on healing and embracing unconditional love. Though he doesn't dwell on the experience, he acknowledges that working through it helped him get to where he is today.

"Having unconditional love, even for those who don't wish good things to you… that frees you," he says. "That frees so much from you."

"It's a collection of thoughts, moments, lessons," he says. "It's not about closure. It's about clarity."

For now, Chimano is still learning. The show has taken him to Australia, France, and now the UK, where he is performing it this week at the Africa Centre in London. With each performance, the show continues to evolve, making space for experimentation and emotional discovery.

He is not just telling his story, but he is also trying to understand his new role in shaping the narratives around identity and visibility in Africa. Advocacy, he says, is part of his future, though he still feels he has much to learn.

"I just want to learn first and understand," he says. "What has been happening? What is going on?"

While each member of Sauti Sol has taken a different path, Chimano is intentional about carving his own space and remains committed to authenticity. He is still releasing music, most recently his song "Show Me" this past May.

And yes, he plans to bring Heavy is the Crown back home to Kenya. "I will bring it home…I just need to figure out how."