Moses Ssali alias Bebe Cool is an award-winning Ugandan singer, father and husband to Zuena Kirema, Allan Hendrick Ssali, Alpha Thierry Ssali, Deen Ozil Ssali, Caysan Ssali and, Beata Ssali. born in September 1st, 1977 to Jaberi Bidandi Ssali.
Moses Ssali whose stage name is Bebe Cool but also known as Big Size is a Ugandan singer, songwriter, record producer, actor philanthropist and political activist.
Bebe Cool is well-known for his ragga and reggae songs mostly with English and Luganda lyrics.
He is a multi-talented musician who has won numerous international awards, is an ambassador for tuberculosis, and is one of Africa’s most well-known performers.
Bebe Cool is also the founder of Gagamel Entertainment Crew.
Net Worth
Bebe Cool’s net worth is estimated to be around $ 2.6 million with his source of income being his booming music career.
Early Life
Moses Ssali alias Bebe Cool was born on 1 September 1977 at Mulago Hospital and grew up in Kanyanya, Kampala.
He was born to a Christian mother and a Muslim father.
He is the last born of his mother and has other siblings like Mina Nakawuka, and Umaru Kakonge.
He and his siblings were being supported by their mother, who had split from their father, former minister and presidential candidate Jaberi Bindadi Ssali.
Education Background
Bebe Cool went to Aga Khan Primary School, in Kampala for his primary education.
He then attended Kitante Hill School for his O-Level education.
For his A-Level studies, he did Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics (PCB/M).
He went to Makerere College School for his Senior five and then transferred to Kololo Senior Secondary School where he finished his senior six.
Education background summary
| Years | Institution | Status /Award |
| Aga Khan Primary School | PLE | |
| Kitante Hill School | UCE | |
| 1997 | Kololo Senior Secondary School | UACE |
Family
Bebe Cool married Zuena Kirema in 2003 and they have been together for over 20 years.
They have five children; Allan Hendrick Ssali, Alpha Thierry Ssali, Deen Ozil Ssali, Caysan Ssali and a daughter, Beata Ssali.
Allan Hendrick Ssali aka Paper Daddy, their first-born son graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from the International University of East Africa (IUEA) in 2021.
Music Career and Professional Work Experience
Bebe Cool, formerly known as Bebe Bunton, began performing professionally as an entertainment prefect right out of high school.
But after completing his S.6, his professional music career took off, and he moved to Nairobi from Kampala in 1997.
He was one of the first musicians to collaborate with Kenya’s Ogopa DJs, a production company and record label.
When Jose Chameleone discovered him there in 1999, the two of them joined up with Kenyan celebrities Nazizi and Wyre (Necessary Noize) to form the East African Bashment Crew.
They put out so many popular songs, such as “Africa Unite,” “Kube,” and the “Fire” album, that they were nominated for the first-ever MTV Africa Music Awards in 2008.
A few years later, Bebe Cool returned home and began influencing Ugandan music with singles like “Fitina,” “Mambo Mingi,” and the boundary-pushing “Trust No People.”
Together with battle-hardened members like Butcher Man, the Late Weather Man, Nubian Lee, banjo Man, Mickie Wine, Toolman, Master Parrot, and Nana, Bobi Wine and Bebecool formed the infamous Fire Base Crew Camp.
Due to rivalry with Leone Island, he broke away from Fire Base and left it under the leadership of Bobi Wine. He then established the Gagamel Crew.
Later, in the early 2000s, Bebe Cool and Halima Namakula, a veteran of Ugandan music, worked together on a crossover song called “Sambagala.”
In a show with the theme “Battle for Africa” in 2013, Bebe Cool faced out against D’banj, one of the biggest acts in Nigeria, at the neutral Glamis Arena in Harare, Zimbabwe. Bebe Cool won with a fantastic performance.
One of the best African songs of all time was voted to be Bebe Cool’s Born in Africa remix, which was initially done by the late Philly Bongole Lutaaya in 2014.
According to BBC World Service listeners, it was number 15 on their list of fifty African anthems, and it was the one song that best captured the essence of the continent.
Bebe Cool released a 14-track album named “Go Mama Album” (also known as “GMAU15”) in 2015, right before his annual “Best Of Bebe Cool” concert at the Serena Hotel.
Oscar Lo Brutto, a well-known producer, mastered each song on the Go Mama Album in London, setting it apart from his previous Ugandan albums.
Bebe Cool has released several solo albums including Maisha and Sente.
Bebe Cool’s Songs
Albums
Never Trust No People (2000)
Bafudde (2007)
Nkolera Baanabange (2008)
Agenze (2009)
Trouble (2010)
Kasepiki (2010)
Akamwako (2012)
Go Mama (2015)
Mbozi Za Malwa (2018)
Up & Whine (2018)
Wire Wire (2020)
Surrender (2020)
Zzina (2023)
Byowaba (2023)
Question (2023)
Songs
Love You Everyday
Mbozi Za Malwa
Nkuliyo
Easy
Wire Wire
Wasibuka Wa
Bamugambe
Surrender
Wakayima
Katono
Bogolako
Kapere
Corona Distance
Want It
Talimba Yesu
Kiba Kibi
One More Touch
Question
I Do
Byowaba
Pass n Go
Up & Whine
Sente
Minzani
Old Skool
Songa Mbele
Kasepiki
Nsilikamu
Zzina
Ntuyo Zange
Batidemu
African Gal
Fitina
Mambo Mingi
Coccidiosis
Other Career accomplishments
The impact of Bebe Cool goes beyond the music business. In addition to actively participating in charitable activities, he has made two appearances in the Big Brother house.
Bebe Cool performed in Hyde Park, London, at Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Celebration in 2008.
Nelson Mandela is listed among the 46664 African ambassadors. The late Nelson Mandela had launched the 46664 campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.
Bebe Cool raised money on August 3, 2018, at a concert titled The Golden Heart, to support the medical care of five children with heart conditions in India.
In 2023, he was chosen to serve as the Uganda National Musicians’ Federation (UNMF)’s (led by Eddy Kenzo) minister of finance.
Bebe Cool has remained a steadfast advocate of the NRM Government. In 2018, he hosted The Golden Heart Concert, a musical event at Serena that featured His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda, as the honoured guest.
In the 2021 presidential election, he backed Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda, and is a part of the MK movement project.
Achievements and Awards
Over the years, Bebe Cool has performed on international stages, garnered several accolades, and continues to be one of the nation’s leading artists.
He has received multiple awards at the Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) and is the three-time winner of the prestigious HiPipo Music Awards’ Artist of the Year Award.
He has toured both the US and the UK and received nominations for the Kora All-African Awards both in 2003 and 2005.
Summary of Bebe Cool’s awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Status |
| 2003 | Kora Awards | Best East African Artist | Nominated |
| 2004 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Best Reggae Artiste/Group | Won |
| 2005 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Best Reggae Artiste/Group | Won |
| 2006 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Best Reggae Artiste/Group | Won |
| Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Song of the Year | Won | |
| 2007 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Best Reggae Artiste/Group | Won |
| Best Male Artiste | Won | ||
| Channel O Music Video Awards | Video of the Year | Won | |
| MOBO Awards | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Best Male Artist | Won |
| Best Reggae Artiste/Group | Won | ||
| 2010 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Artist of the Year 2010 | Won |
| Best Reggae Artiste/Group | Won | ||
| Album of the year | Won | ||
| 2011 | Pearl of Africa Music Awards | Best Male Artist | Won |
| Tanzania Music Awards | Best East African Song (‘Kasepiki’) | Nominated | |
| 2013 | HiPipo Music Awards | Best Reggae Song (Missing You) | Won |
| Artist of the Year | Won | ||
| Best Reggae Song (Ntuyo Zange) | Nominated | ||
| Best Dancehall/Ragga Song (No Body Move) | Nominated | ||
| Best Musician on Social Media | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | HiPipo Music Awards | Best Male REGGAE Song: Love LetterBest Male RAGGA-DANCEHALL Song: Kokodiosis | Won |
| Best on-Stage Performer | Won | ||
| Best Artist on Social Media | Won | ||
| Best Male Artist | Won | ||
| Artist of the Year | Won | ||
| Afrimma Awards | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | HiPipo Music Awards | Best Male REGGAE Song: Love You Everyday | Won |
| Video of the Year: Love You Every | Won | ||
| Best Concert Performance – Best of Bebe Cool Concert | Won | ||
| Most Active Fans Group – Gagamel Phamily | Won | ||
| Best Male Artist | Won | ||
| Artist of the Year | Won | ||
| Australia Radio | Afro Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Afrimma Awards | Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa | Won |
| Best African Rock categories | Nominated |
Controversies
A tense altercation led to Bebe Cool being shot in the legs by security guards in January 2010, just after he had performed at American artist R. Kelly’s gig in Kampala.
Two of Bebe Cool’s guards as well as a Special Police Constable were hurt in the altercation.
He was later airlifted to the United States, where he received therapy for months, after being brought to Nsambya Hospital for treatment following the incident.
Bebe Cool was performing at the Kyadondo Rugby Grounds on July 11, 2010, when a bomb planted by the Somali Islamist terrorist organization “Al-Shabaab” went off.
Bebe Cool claimed that the majority of the people who were killed were right in front of him. The blast was so loud and he witnessed body pieces flying over him the next moment.
Bebe Cool stated in June 2020 that a man who had knocked into his car almost shot him.
The artist described what happened in a Facebook post, saying that the man smashed his car and then pulled out a revolver when he protested.
After the altercation, the man was detained and brought to the Ntinda Police Station, where Bebe Cool was also requested to go and provide a statement.
Bebe, however, stated that he was taken aback to discover all the police officers present in the station, were rounded off and held at gunpoint. He further stated that the same men had attempted to shoot him.
Between 2016 and 2018, Bebe Cool was the target of growing criticism for her role as a top organizer for Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the president of Uganda, who has been characterized as despotic by foreign media.
At one point, this led to Ugandans pushing him off the stage before he could begin performing.
