Following the release of his latest album Break the Chains, Ugandan music icon Bebe Cool is on a mission to shake up the East African music scene.
The artist has been actively promoting the project through various appearances from high-energy visualisers like Cheque featuring Joshua Baraka, to live activations such as DJ Carlos Perez’s event, and a string of media interviews across Uganda.
Now, with the buzz firmly established at home, Bebe Cool is setting his sights on the broader region. His next stop? Nairobi, Kenya a city that holds a deeply personal significance for him.
For Bebe Cool, Nairobi isn’t just a tour destination — it’s where his journey began. Years ago, he arrived in the Kenyan capital with little more than a dream, sharing a room with a security guard before a good Samaritan helped him find his footing in a professional studio. From those humble beginnings, Bebe Cool’s career blossomed and the rest, as they say, is history.
Over the years, he’s returned to Nairobi multiple times for both collaborations and productions. Notably, he shot the video for Love You Everyday, the lead single off his Go Mama album, in Kenya. He later teamed up with Kenyan director V Jay One for the Go Mama title track video.
His collaborations with East African heavyweights — including K-Rupt, Redsan, Nameless, Sauti Sol, Wyre, and Nazizi (of Necessary Noize) — have played a significant role in bridging regional musical styles.
Although Bebe Cool has visited Kenya several times, this will be his first time back since 2017, when he appeared on Coke Studio Africa.
“This feels like a homecoming. Nairobi is where it all started for me — it’s where I was mentored,” he reflects.
During his return, Bebe Cool is expected to connect with both established industry figures and rising stars who are shaping the new wave of East African music — a movement that traces its roots back to the early 2000s.
Break the Chains marks a bold new chapter in Bebe Cool’s artistic evolution. The album explores fresh sonic territory with genres like Afrotech, Afrobeats, and Afroelectronic, signaling his desire not just to grow personally, but to push African music forward.
With standout tracks like Boy Like Me, African Love (featuring Afrobeats star Yemi Alade), and Cheque (with Joshua Baraka), the album has already made waves on streaming platforms, amassing nearly a million streams since its late May release.
Bebe Cool’s East African tour is more than just a promotion — it’s a statement of intent. He’s not just celebrating his roots; he’s redefining the future of African music.
