Bebe Cool
Encyclopedia
Bebe Cool (real name Moses Ssali) is a ragga
musician from Uganda
. He started his career around 1997 in Nairobi
, Kenya
, but a few years later he moved back to his native country. Together with Redsan
and his compatriot Chameleone
, Bebe Cool was one of the first artists affiliated with Ogopa DJs
, a production house and record label in Kenya.
Two of his popular singles are "Fitina" and "Mambo Mingi". He also collaborated with Halima Namakula, a Ugandan veteran woman musician, on their crossover track "Sambagala". He has released two solo albums, Maisha and Senta. His lyrics are in Luganda, Swahili
, and English.
Bebe Cool has won several awards at the Pearl of Africa Music Awards
(PAM Awards). He was nominated for the Kora All-African Awards
in 2003 and 2005. He has toured in the UK and the US.
Together with Kenyan duo Necessary Noize
, Bebe Cool has formed a reggae
group known as the East African Bashment Crew
. They have released one album, Fire, and two hit singles, "Africa Unite" and "Fire". The group is nominated at the inaugural (2008) MTV Africa Music Awards
.
In January 2010 he was injured when a policeman shot at him.
On July 11, 2010, Bebe Cool was performing at the Kyadondo Rugby Club
when a bomb set by Somali Islamist
terrorist group al-Shabaab exploded (July 2010 Kampala attacks
). According to Cool, "Most people who died were just in front of me. The blast was so loud—the next thing I saw were body parts flying over."
Bebe Cool is husband to model and former Miss Uganda contestant Zuena Kirema and is now a father of two; one son and daughter, Alpha Thierry and Beata, respectively.
Nominated:
Ragga
-Origins:Ragga originated in Jamaica during the 1980s, at the same time that electronic dance music's popularity was increasing globally. One of the reasons for ragga's swift propagation is that it is generally easier and less expensive to produce than reggae performed on traditional musical...
musician from Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. He started his career around 1997 in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, but a few years later he moved back to his native country. Together with Redsan
Redsan
Redsan is a reggae and ragga musician from Kenya.- Biography :His first album, Seasons of the San was released in 2002 under Ogopa DJ's label. Best known tracks on the album are "Julie" and "Wanipa Raha"....
and his compatriot Chameleone
Chameleone
Joseph Mayanja known for his stage name Jose Chameleon, Joe Chameleon, Jose Chameleone, or just Chameleone is a ragga musician from Uganda. He mainly sings in Luganda, English and Swahili...
, Bebe Cool was one of the first artists affiliated with Ogopa DJs
Ogopa DJs
Ogopa Deejays are a Kenyan music production team and record label formed in the late-1990s which gained regional fame and popularity due to standards of their production work.- Background :...
, a production house and record label in Kenya.
Two of his popular singles are "Fitina" and "Mambo Mingi". He also collaborated with Halima Namakula, a Ugandan veteran woman musician, on their crossover track "Sambagala". He has released two solo albums, Maisha and Senta. His lyrics are in Luganda, Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
, and English.
Bebe Cool has won several awards at the Pearl of Africa Music Awards
Pearl of Africa Music Awards
Pearl of Africa Music Awards are annual national music awards in Uganda. The awards were first held in 2003. Since 2006 there has also been categories for musicians from other East African countries ....
(PAM Awards). He was nominated for the Kora All-African Awards
Kora Awards
The Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
in 2003 and 2005. He has toured in the UK and the US.
Together with Kenyan duo Necessary Noize
Necessary Noize
-Origins and Original Members:It was originally composed of female MC/singer Nazizi Hirji, singer Kevin Wyre and rapper Bamzigi, though Bamzigi later left due to personal and label disputes. The group was formed in October 2000 and released their self-titled debut album in 2000 under Audio Vault...
, Bebe Cool has formed a reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
group known as the East African Bashment Crew
East African Bashment Crew
East African Bashment Crew is a Kenyan-Ugandan reggae group. It consists of three members, Bebe Cool from Uganda, and the Kenyan duo Necessary Noize . All of them were already established musicians when the group was formed in 2005...
. They have released one album, Fire, and two hit singles, "Africa Unite" and "Fire". The group is nominated at the inaugural (2008) MTV Africa Music Awards
MTV Africa Music Awards 2008
The first annual MTV Africa Music Awards took place on November 22, 2008 in Abuja, Nigeria at The Velodrome. The show was hosted by Trevor Nelson. The nominees were announced on October 7, 2008.-Artist of the Year:* Aṣa* D’Banj* P-Square* HHP* Seether...
.
In January 2010 he was injured when a policeman shot at him.
On July 11, 2010, Bebe Cool was performing at the Kyadondo Rugby Club
Kyadondo Rugby Club
Kyadondo Rugby Club is a rugby union ground in Kampala, Uganda.It was built in 2000. Facilities include main ground, a training pitch and a club house .The ground is home to several club teams, among them MTN Heathens, a leading rugby club in Uganda...
when a bomb set by Somali Islamist
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
terrorist group al-Shabaab exploded (July 2010 Kampala attacks
July 2010 Kampala attacks
The July 2010 Kampala attacks were suicide bombings carried out against crowds watching a screening of 2010 FIFA World Cup Final match during the World Cup at two locations in Kampala, Uganda, on , 2010. The attacks left 74 dead and 70 injured...
). According to Cool, "Most people who died were just in front of me. The blast was so loud—the next thing I saw were body parts flying over."
Bebe Cool is husband to model and former Miss Uganda contestant Zuena Kirema and is now a father of two; one son and daughter, Alpha Thierry and Beata, respectively.
Awards
Won:- 2004 Pearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music Awards are annual national music awards in Uganda. The awards were first held in 2003. Since 2006 there has also been categories for musicians from other East African countries ....
(PAM Awards) - Best Reggae Artiste/Group - 2005 Pearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music Awards are annual national music awards in Uganda. The awards were first held in 2003. Since 2006 there has also been categories for musicians from other East African countries ....
(PAM Awards) - Best Reggae Artiste/Group - 2006 Pearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music Awards are annual national music awards in Uganda. The awards were first held in 2003. Since 2006 there has also been categories for musicians from other East African countries ....
(PAM Awards) - Best Reggae Artiste/Group - 2006 Pearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music Awards are annual national music awards in Uganda. The awards were first held in 2003. Since 2006 there has also been categories for musicians from other East African countries ....
(PAM Awards) -Song of the Year - 2007 Pearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music Awards are annual national music awards in Uganda. The awards were first held in 2003. Since 2006 there has also been categories for musicians from other East African countries ....
(PAM Awards) - Best Reggae Artiste/Group - 2007 Pearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music Awards are annual national music awards in Uganda. The awards were first held in 2003. Since 2006 there has also been categories for musicians from other East African countries ....
(PAM Awards) - Best Male Artiste - 2007Channel O Music Video AwardsChannel O Music Video AwardsChannel O Music Video Awards, also known as Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards are Pan-African music awards organised by South Africa -based Channel O television channel. The awards were first held in 2003 under the name Reel Music Video Awards. Since 2005 the awards have been held annually...
-Video of the year - 2008 Pearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music Awards are annual national music awards in Uganda. The awards were first held in 2003. Since 2006 there has also been categories for musicians from other East African countries ....
(PAM Awards) - Best Male Artist & Best Reggae Artiste/Group & Best Ragga Artiste/Group - 2010 Pearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music AwardsPearl of Africa Music Awards are annual national music awards in Uganda. The awards were first held in 2003. Since 2006 there has also been categories for musicians from other East African countries ....
(PAM Awards) - Artist of the Year 2010,Best Reggae Artiste/Group and Album of the year
Nominated:
- 2003 Kora AwardsKora AwardsThe Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
- Best East African Artist