Founded in 1982 by Otto Jansen and Manfred Sauga, SOKO draws inspiration from Guinean music. The band’s name, pronounced with a sharp “s” like in “sun,” reflects the legendary Guinean dance Le Soko, which tells the story of a young African musician dancing and singing alongside goddesses for seven days and nights, ultimately becoming a celebrated Mandingo troubadour.

Otto Jansen (saxophone) studied jazz in Hilversum, Netherlands, and performed at festivals across Europe and South Africa, collaborating with musicians from Ghana, Nigeria, Eritrea, Togo, Cameroon, Congo, Mali, and Guinea. Manfred Sauga (bass) trained at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover and worked with renowned jazz ensembles, while also leading music therapy programs in Germany and Austria.

Velile Mchunu, the dynamic vocalist, rose to fame starring as “Rafiki” in the German and South African productions of The Lion King. Her solo breakthrough came in 2010 with the hit song “Helele,” which gained international recognition during the FIFA World Cup, earning gold and platinum awards. For over five years, she has performed with SOKO, captivating audiences with her powerful voice and energetic stage presence.

The collaboration between Velile & SOKO Band and the South African Embassy offered Berliners a rare glimpse into the richness of South African and West African musical heritage, blending tradition, storytelling, and modern performance.

The event demonstrated the Embassy’s commitment to cultural diplomacy, bringing communities together through music and celebrating the vibrancy of African artistic expression.

• https://www.facebook.com/SAEmbassyBerlin/photos/the-electrifying-velile-soko-band-will-grace-the-federal-foreign-office-in-berli/1193797979456556/?_rdr
• https://sokoafricanmusic.com/band/