Bebe Cool (born 1st September, 1977) (real name Moses Sali) is a top African Reggae and 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. Bebe Cool was one of the first artists affiliated with Ogopa DJs, a production house and record label in Kenya.
He also collaborated with Halima Namakula, a Ugandan veteran woman musician, on their crossover track “Sambagala”. He has released three studio albums; Maisha, Senta and Go Mama. His lyrics are in Luganda, Swahili, and English.
Bebe Cool is a three times winner of the Artist of The Year Award at the Prestigious HiPipo Music Awards and won several accolades at 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.
Bebe Cool performed at the Nelson Mandela 46664 concert at Hyde Park London and was also named the by Nelson Mandela as the 46664 African ambassador. 46664 is a campaign of raising awareness against HIV /AIDS that was initiated by the late Nelson Mandela. At the concert Bebe Cool put up a great live performance that is still memorable to millions of music fans across the globe.
In 2012, Bebe Cool was voted Uganda’s greatest artist since Uganda’s independence on 9 October 1962. A poll that was conducted by Kasuku media services all over Uganda as part of the event “Ugandan music at 50 years since independence” Bebe Cool polled the highest number of votes beating his music rivals.
In 2014, Bebe Cool’s Born in Africa remix song was voted among Africa’s greatest songs of all time.The song came at number 15 in Fifty anthems for the African continent. BBC World Service listeners suggested the African songs that summed up the continent to them.This was to mark the 50th anniversary of the African Union – formerly the Organization of African Unity, From the suggestions, the BBC’s DJ Edu, who hosts a weekly African music show on BBC radio, compiled them into a special five-minute mix of 50 songs from 50 countries
Bebe Cool has performed in the Big Brother house twice.
In 2013, Bebe Cool had a music battle with one of Nigeria’s top artists D’banj in a neutral place Glamis Arena Harare Zimbabwe.The show was organized under the theme Battle for Africa, Bebe Cool put up a great performance at the battle.
Bebe Cool is husband to model and former Miss Uganda contestant Zuena Kirema and is now a father of three; two sons and a daughter, Alpha Thierry, Beata and Caysan respectively.
Awards Won:
2004 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Best Reggae Artiste/Group
2005 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Best Reggae Artiste/Group
2006 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Best Reggae Artiste/Group
2006 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Song of the Year
2007 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Best Reggae Artiste/Group
2007 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Best Male Artiste
2007 Channel O Music Video Awards -Video of the year
2008 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Best Male Artist & Best Reggae Artiste/Group & Best Ragga Artiste/Group
2010 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Artist of the Year 2010,Best Reggae Artiste/Group and Album of the year
2011 Pearl of Africa Music Awards – Best Male Artist
2013 HiPipo Music Awards – Best Reggae Song with Rema (Missing You)
2013 HiPipo Music Awards – Artist of the Year
2014 HiPipo Music Awards – Best Male REGGAE Song : Love Letter – Bebe Cool and Irene Ntale
2014 HiPipo Music Awards – Best Male RAGGA-DANCEHALL Song : Kokodiosis
2014 HiPipo Music Awards – Best on Stage Performer :
2014 HiPipo Music Awards – Best Artist on Social Media
2014 HiPipo Music Awards – Best Male Artist
2014 HiPipo Music Awards – Artist of the Year
2015 HiPipo Music Awards – Best Male REGGAE Song : Love You Everyday – Bebe Cool
2015 HiPipo Music Awards – Video of the Year : Love You Every – Bebe Cool
2015 HiPipo Music Awards – Best Concert Performance – Best of Bebe Cool Concert :
2015 HiPipo Music Awards – Most Active Fans Group – Gagamel Phamily
2015 HiPipo Music Awards – Best Male Artist
2015 HiPipo Music Awards – Artist of the Year
Nominated:
2003 Kora Awards – Best East African Artist
2007 Mobo Awards
2011 Tanzania Music Awards – Best East African Song (‘Kasepiki’)
2013 HiPipo Music Awards – Best Reggae Song (Ntuyo Zange), Best Dancehall/Ragga Song (No Body Move), Best Musician on Social Media.
Nominated in Afrimma Awards 2014
Australia Radio Afro Song of the Year 2015.