Singer Bebe Cool touched down at the Julius Nyerere International airport, in Dar es salam- Tanzania, last night, ahead of the kickoff of his Break The Chains album media tour, slated for July 7th- 12th.
Bebe Cool’s trip to Bongo Land, comes after a successful maiden tour in Nairobi, where the singer spent the better part of last week. From one media house to the next, Bebe Cool reminded Kenya that he’s still a force to reckon with, in the East African music space.
He also took time off to pay homage to both the city, and people who nurtured him, when he was starting out his music career in the late 1990s.
The Home- singer who was warmly welcomed by both local and international press, expressed delight in taking his music to Tanzania, a place he said plays a big role in elevating East African culture. Bebe Cool held a press conference at the Dar es Salaam, Serena Hotel.
At the conference, Bebe Cool said that after seeing how the world has opened its doors to Africa, it was time for East Africa, as a region, to work together and get a substantial piece of that pie.“East Africa should do whatever it takes to push at least 30 artists to the world, who knows at least ten will make it and that will create a ripple effect,” he said.
Bebe Cool is currently in Dar es Salam to promote his new album- Break the Chains.He says, the album’s title is about freedom; the freedom to do things many people thought were past you, to try out new journeys, but above all, artistic freedom to create without limitations.
The 16 track album is a cocktail of genres, embracing what Africa is dancing to at the moment, Afrobeats, while giving salute to emerging sounds such as Afrotech, Afropop and Afro-house.
But nothing makes all this work like Bebe Cool’s voice and storytelling, layered in different moods and emotions.With collaborations from Nigerian Afrobeats princess- Yemi Alade, international UK-based Kenya DJ and producer- DJ Edu, and Uganda’s rising sensation on the global scene- Joshua Baraka.
With two singles, Circumference and Motivation, Break the Chains, hit the ground running, though, a month after its release, other songs on the album have started creating a cult following.
African Love alongside Yemi Alade, has been praised for her delivery, while Cheque- ft. Joshua Baraka, has been deemed fresh and timely.Bebe Cool has over the years worked with artists from different walks of life.
He has worked with musicians from Kenya, South Africa, Malawi, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, among others.
Despite being one of the artists who benefitted from Tanzania’s premiere music television- Channel 5/East African TV in the early 2000s, this is Bebe Cool’s first extensive campaign in the country.Bebe Cool said that Tanzania is not the last place he’s taking his album, he has talked about tours in Rwanda, Nigeria, South Africa, and Europe.
The press conference was co-hosted by Tanzanian media personality and content creator- Lil Ommy, and was overseen by Kenyan PR practitioner- Anyiko Owoko, of Anyiko PR.Break the Chains is available across all digital streaming platforms. Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and all major streaming platforms.
ABOUT BEBE COOL
Bebe Cool is one of Uganda’s most iconic and influential musicians, known for his unique fusion of reggae, dancehall and Afrobeats. With a career spanning over 25 years, he has played a pivotal role in shaping Uganda’s modern music scene and continues to impact the broader East African music landscape.
Some of his groundbreaking albums include ‘Maisha’ (2004), ‘Fitina’ (2001) and ‘Go Mama’ (2015).
Throughout his career, Bebe Cool has collaborated with numerous regional and international artists, and he is one of the most decorated Ugandan musicians, having won over 20 awards.
Beyond his musical success, Bebe Cool is also a committed philanthropist and is Uganda’s Tuberculosis Ambassador raising awareness about the disease.
His remix of Philly Lutaaya’s Born in Africa was ranked #15 by the BBC during the commemoration of the Organization of African Unity at 50, cementing his place as an African music legend.
