Ugandan musician Bebe Cool stirred conversation in the entertainment world when he boldly claimed that Uganda currently has no truly global artist, not even BET Award winner Eddy Kenzo.
The Gagamel boss was quick to clarify that while Kenzo did well with his viral hit “Sitya Loss,” that single success does not qualify him as a global brand.
According to Bebe Cool, many Ugandans misunderstand what it means to be an international artist.
“Ugandans just don’t know the meaning of the word ‘global.’ They misuse it. I think many just want to cause a fight between me and him. We have no global artist in Uganda at the moment,” Bebe Cool said.
He emphasized that consistency and scale are crucial for any artist to be considered global, and while Sitya Loss gained worldwide traction, Kenzo hasn’t matched that level with successive works or consistent international presence.
Extending his argument beyond Uganda, Bebe Cool also noted that East Africa as a whole has yet to produce a true global music figure.
The closest, in his opinion, is Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz, who has collaborated with international acts like Ne-Yo and Rick Ross — but even he, Bebe claims, hasn’t “fully arrived” at global status.
“Actually, we don’t have any global artist in East Africa. Diamond Platnumz has performed really well; he has pushed this far, working with bigger international artists, but he hasn’t reached there yet,” he noted.
Bebe Cool believes that for Ugandan and East African music to thrive globally, regional collaboration and serious investment are needed.
He pointed out that promoting music on a global scale requires significant funding — something most East African artists currently lack.
“The Ugandan music industry needs more than 30 billion Uganda shillings. 30 billion is very little and it can’t do anything; personally, I need 30 billion to promote my album across the world,” he stated.
To date, Bebe Cool revealed he has already invested 220 million Ugandan shillings in media tours across just three countries: Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. He says that is only the beginning.
“I have so far spent 220 million on just media tours in only three countries. But I have to go to London, Kigali, and Lagos, plus other destinations for its promotion,” he added.
The interview has sparked reactions online, with some fans supporting Bebe Cool’s blunt honesty and others accusing him of undermining fellow artists.
Whether or not one agrees with him, his remarks have once again ignited a deeper conversation around what it truly means to be a “global artist” — and what it will take for Uganda to finally produce one.
