Ugandan music star Bebe Cool has called on East African artists to revive regional collaborations and actively engage with media and fans across the region to boost the industry’s vibrancy.
Sharing his reflections from the recent #BreakTheChains media tour in Kenya and Tanzania, Bebe Cool said the tour opened his eyes to the untapped potential of East Africa’s music market, cultural exchange, and media landscape.
“The corporate world and trade in the region are vibrant, but the arts exchange has greatly dropped. I now understand why cities like Johannesburg and Lagos dominate the spotlight. We need to re-awaken the vibrancy of East Africa for our sector,” Bebe Cool said.
He noted that the brotherhood that once united artists like Lady Jay Dee, AY, Redsan, Nameless, and crews like Necessary Noize and the East African Bashment Crew has faded, weakening the region’s collective musical power. He urged artists to embrace collaborations and cultural exchanges once again, highlighting how genres like Genge and Bongo Flava previously thrived across borders.
Bebe Cool also praised the professionalism and patriotism of journalists in Kenya and Tanzania, as well as the rapid growth of digital media platforms like YouTube and entertainment podcasts, which he described as major drivers of the industry.
Additionally, he encouraged East African musicians to invest in media, citing examples such as Ali Kiba, who owns Crown FM, and Diamond Platnumz, who owns Wasafi Media, noting their critical role in shaping and controlling music narratives.
“With East Africa’s population exceeding 300 million, if just 50 million of us deliberately become music consumers and stream our music, the world will have no choice but to notice us,” he said.
Bebe Cool concluded by urging artists, producers, and promoters to deliberately visit other East African states at least once a year to foster collaboration, growth, and a united regional music identity.