
Bien: We Had Some Really Dark times Before Chiki Started Managing Me
- Published By The Statesman For The Statesman Digital
- 5 days ago
For two decades, Bien Aime Baraza was a cornerstone of the iconic Kenyan band Sauti Sol, known for their infectious sound that captivated East Africa and beyond.
Now, two years into a thriving solo career marked by a successful sold-out ten-state U.S. tour for his album Alusa, Bien is revealing the secret weapon behind his second lease of life - his wife, Chiki Kuruka.
In a candid conversation on The Breakfast Club, Bien opened up about the beautiful complexities of having his partner double as his manager, a dynamic he credits with not only centering him but also saving their marriage.
Bien, who described his transition from the renowned boy band as trying "something new" after 20 years together, emphasized that the move has been a thrilling experience so far.

However, navigating the often-challenging waters of the music industry alone required a level of support he found unexpectedly in the most personal of places.
When asked about his wife, Bien confirmed that his work of art is managed by his wife. The hosts were intrigued, following up with, "She is your manager. You married your manager. How is that dynamic?".
Bien's response was immediate and heartfelt: "It's beautiful. It's been by far the most rewarding experience of my life. I didn't think I'd have it this easy in my solo career if I didn't have someone who centers me like her".
Their professional partnership is a relatively recent development in a long-standing personal relationship. Bien shared that he and Chiki have been together for 11 years as lovers but 2 years as business partners.
"We were together...we've been together 11 years and she managed me for only the last two years".
This means they spent nine years together before adding the layer of manager and artist. The decision to blend the personal and professional lives came as Bien embarked on his solo journey.
"And then when I went solo I was just like, 'Yo, I think you need to manage me.' And she was like, 'Okay, we're doing it for the home and it's beautiful,” he recounted.
“It's by far the most rewarding experience of my life," he added.

The unique situation naturally led to questions about how they separate their personal lives from the business.
Bien candidly answered the hosts that they rarely separate their personal lives from work life and more often, they do both concurrently.
"We don't [Separate]. We'd be in bed at midnight and she'd be like, 'Babe, yeah, did you check the mix for the song that was sent?”.
While acknowledging the lack of boundaries might be a potential issue "further down the road, I know that might be a problem, but so far so good", he feels it is "beautiful right now" and they are operating on "great energy".
Perhaps the most striking revelation was Bien's belief that this professional collaboration wasn't just beneficial for his career but vital for their relationship itself.
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"We've had really dark times before she started managing me, and I think when she managed me that saved our marriage like for real," he shared.
Discussing their finances, Bien offered insight into their household dynamic.
“In my household, the money comes to the pot. The money belongs to the family. And she has access to all of my money and I have access to all of hers. So, like we work to build a future for us and our children."
Bien Aime//Instagram
Later in the interview, while discussing marriage and cultural traditions like polygamy, Bien definitively stated his commitment to Chiki. When asked if he would want another wife, he responded, "No, I don't. Yeah. Not now. No. No. I don't. No."
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