Shockwaves are rippling through the music industry as Nominated Senator Crystal Asige accuses music band Sauti Sol and their label, Sol Generation, of leveraging her disability for their own financial benefit.
Asige, who has made significant contributions to tracks like “Extravaganza” and “1919 to Forever,” alleges that her dismissal from the label, an event she claims was shrouded in contradiction and inconsistency, was not just unjust but a calculated move to exploit her image and story.
Speaking in the High Court during a copyright infringement lawsuit she filed in 2022, the senator detailed the circumstances surrounding her termination.
“They kept using my images and stories to market the brand,” Asige testified, revealing that her identity as a visually-impaired female artist played a pivotal role in their PR strategy.
“I was the only woman and the only one with a disability, which they touted as their commitment to inclusivity and empowerment,” she added.
Asige alleged that while they publicly championed her, behind the scenes, she was pressured into signing an Artist Development Agreement that felt heavily exploitative.
The simmering tensions came to a head when Asige sought a crucial meeting regarding a more favorable 360 recording deal, one that she believed would respect her talents and contributions.
Despite her repeated requests, she claims, the band members were always “busy,” and the promised meeting never materialized.
“Instead of addressing my concerns, they asked me to be patient,” she lamented, revealing the emotional strain of feeling sidelined in her own career.
Sauti Sol and Sol Generation’s legal representative, Moriasi Omambia, painted a very different picture in court.
He firmly denied all allegations of exploitation, asserting that Asige was treated with dignity during her time with the label.
“We have never pretended or exploited her disability for financial gain,” Omambia stated emphatically, arguing that care was taken to accommodate her medical needs throughout their engagement.
The saga reportedly culminated in a meeting on November 7, 2019, where Asige faced her dismissal in a whirlwind of conflicting reasons offered by key figures from the label.
“They told me I was the weakest link, yet praised my songwriting. It was a confusing barrage of contradictions,” the senator recounted, highlighting the chaotic nature of the conversation that left her feeling targeted without a clear justification.
