Chimano
Willis Austin Chimano, known professionally as Chimano, is a Kenyan singer and songwriter who gained recognition as a member of Sauti Sol. His debut extended play, Heavy is the Crown, was released in 2022.
Chimano
Capital FM Kenya · YouTube: https: ab_channel=CapitalFMKenya – View/save archived versions on archive.org · CC BY 3.0
- Birth Name
- Willis Austin Chimano
- Full name
- Willis Austin Chimano.
- Born
- 1987.
- Nationality
- Kenya.
- Occupation
- musician.
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wikidata · Q132456746 · wikipedia · Chimano
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Background — person • Birth Name — Willis Austin Chimano • Current Member Of — Sauti Sol
Life and career
Life and career
In 2022, Chimano announced plans to host his first solo concert, the Love and Harmony Festival. The event was devoted to "celebrating love, harmony, inclusion, and diversity", and scheduled to take place at the Junction Mall. However, the police canceled the event for security reasons, sparking an uproar on social media. Chimano's team found another venue that could host the concert, but the entire show was scrapped after law enforcement shut down rehearsals. Chimano's debut extended play, Heavy is the Crown, was released in April 2022. The seven-track project explores topics of self-identity, self-love, and self-acceptance. After Sauti Sol announced their hiatus in 2023, Chimano performed in Australia, France, and the United Kingdom. He also performed in London and Cardiff as part of the UK-Kenya Season of Culture, an initiative organised by Africa Centre, London and the British Council. In 2024, Chimano released the singles "Fashion" and "Do You Remember"; the latter track delves into self-discovery and trusting one's journey. In November of the same year, he released the single "Monster", which has been described as a "feel-good Afro-house/dance song". The track explores themes of self-worth, empowerment and resilience.
Personal life
Personal life
In 2021, Chimano came out as gay, becoming the first Kenyan artist to openly identify as a queer man.
Discography
• Heavy is the Crown (2022)
Sauti Sol is a top Kenyan band, who started out as A capella singers to become an award-winning band. Now, Kenya’s top and a force to reckon in Africa. From left, Polycarp Otieno, Delvin Mudigi, Willis Austin Chimano and Bien Aime Baraza.
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Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Chimano, revision 1373530880 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Curtains fall as Sauti Sol holds final concert. Citizen Digital. 2023-11-05.
- 2.Vaitiekus, Kym. Review: HEAVY IS THE CROWN, power to the songs that set you free. at The Loading Dock Theatre. BroadwayWorld.com. 2026-03-26.
- 3.https://ra.co/events/2213532
- 4.Kisera, Maryanne. Chimano Redefining Concerts with Debut 'Love And Harmony Fest'. KenyanVibe. 2022-02-04.
- 5.Uproar as police cancel Sauti Sol Chimano's gig. The Standard.
- 6.Johnson, Sarah. 'There was so much vitriol': Willis Chimano on being outed while in Africa's biggest boy band. The Guardian. 2025-08-19. 0261-3077.
- 7.Sauti Sol's Chimano explores inner self on Heavy Is the Crown EP. Music in Africa. 2022-04-20.
- 8.Adhis, Paula. Willis Chimano Moves Past His Sauti Sol Roots with One-Man Show 'Heavy Is the Crown' OkayAfrica. www.okayafrica.com. 2025-07-30.
- 9.Gichovi, Murugi. Chimano Releases New Solo Single 'Do You Remember '. The Sauce. 2024-08-12.
- 10.Kenyan artist Chimano shares new single Monster. Music in Africa. 2024-11-26.
- 11.Sauti Sol singer Chimano hailed in Kenya for coming out as gay. 2021-12-09.
- 12.People don't understand! Sauti Sol's Chimano speaks on his sexuality. The Star.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 1
- Heavy is the Crown (2026)
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
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