| Bensoul | |
| Birth Name: | Benson Mutua |
| Birth Date: | 19960304 |
| Birth Place: | Embu, Kenya |
| Genre: | Afrosoul |
| Label: | Lion of Sudah |
| Past Member Of: | Sol Generation Records |
Benson Mutua (born March 4, 1996), professionally known as Bensoul, is a Kenyan singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He achieved mainstream success in 2019 following being the first signee of Sol Generation Records by Sautisol and releasing his single Lucy. His five-year deal ended in 2023 and he left the label to start his own record label, Lion of Sudah.[1]
Bensoul was born and raised in Dallas, a slum in Embu, Kenya. His father was a musician who played bass and electric guitar and therefore influenced Bensoul's interest in music.[2] Bensoul attended the Technical University of Kenya to study civil engineering, but dropped out in his third year to pursue music.[3]
Bensoul started playing bass guitar for the Kenyan band, Hart The Band.[4] In 2016, Bensoul released Masheesha, a collaboration with Kenyan band H_art The Band.[5]
Bensoul also wrote several songs for different musicians. He co-wrote Uliza Kiatu and wrote El Shaddai for Hart the Band.[6] He also wrote songs for artists including Telenovela by Kidum and has written for Alikiba, Ben Pol, Nyashinski, Sautisol and Mercy Masika.[7] Later in his career, he co-wrote Time Flies, for Burna Boy's African Giant album which won a Grammy award.[8]
In 2019, Bensoul became the first signed of Sol Generation, a record label by Sauti Sol[9]
In 2019, Bensoul released his first song under Sol Generation, Lucy. The song is a blend of rock and dancehall and uses Swahili, English and Sheng lyrics.[9] [10] In this same year, he released, Favorite, which is a love song.[11] In 2020, he released Qwarantunes EP included four songs; Forget You, No Kisses, Salama and Peddi.
In the 2021, he released the song, Nairobi, which featured Kenyan musicians Mejja and Nviiri The Storyteller. The song talks about the dating scene in Nairobi and explains that people unknowingly share partners.[12] In 2021, Bensoul released the Medicine EP, which had four tracks; Medicine, Stereo, Ntala Nawe and Sugar Rush. The EP had classical Kenyan pop music, with a 'soulful feel'.[13] The songs revolved around the theme of love.[14]
In 2023 Bensoul released his debut album, Lion of Sudah and his last work under Sol Generation. The album was released on the 20th of April, as a tribute to cannabis and called for its legalization in Kenya. Songs like Karibuni Kwa Mida ya 420, Legalisation and Navutishwa which featured Bien, focused on Cannabis.[15] The album had versatile sounds and features.[16]
In 2023, he announced that he was leaving Sol Generation, following the end of his five-year contract. He announced the development of his record label, Lion of Sudah.
The Lion of Sudah (2023)
Qwarantunes (2020)
Medicine (2021)
| Café Ngoma | 2017 | Bensoul | Soulful artist of the year | |||
| Café Ngoma | 2018 | Bensoul | Artist of the Year | [17] | ||
| Pulse Music and Video Awards | 2021 | Nairobi-Bensoul ft Nviiri The Story Teller, Mejia, Sauti Sol | Best Collaboration of the year | [18] | ||
| Nakufa- Okello Max ft Bensoul, Amlyoto | Best Collaboration of the year | |||||
| AFRIMAs | 2021 | Bensoul | Best Male Artist in East Africa | [19] |