Jemima Lochang, a 25-year-old Ugandan woman born in the heart of Karamoja, found herself face-to-face with her idol, music legend Bebe Cool, on Thursday. The meeting was not staged by a record label or arranged by a PR agency. It was a reward for authenticity. “I’ve been a fan of Bebe Cool for as long as I can remember,” Jemima said, a spark lighting up her voice. “When he released Break the Chains, I didn’t even think twice. I just knew I had to share it.”
But Jemima did more than just share the music. She lived it. Song by song, lyric by lyric, she used her TikTok account to breathe life into the album. Over several days, she posted videos of herself miming to different tracks, adding commentary and explaining the meanings behind some of the songs. Her delivery was sharp, heartfelt, and infectious.
Her efforts caught Bebe Cool’s attention. He gave her a surprise courtesy call and invited her to share a meal. “I was in bed with malaria and my phone rang. It was a random number. When I picked up, I heard, ‘Hello, is this Jemima? This is Bebe Cool.’ I was in shock,” she recalled.
He thanked her for promoting the album. “We didn’t talk for long, but even in that short call, I felt his appreciation. I couldn’t believe it.” Things moved quickly after that. His manager contacted her and a lunch date was arranged. In true celebrity fashion, Bebe Cool personally picked her up in a convoy of three cars, including a bulletproof ride.
“That was the first time I’d ever been in a bulletproof car,” Jemima laughed. “And to think it was with Bebe Cool. It was surreal.” On the day of the lunch, Jemima brought along her friend Bridget, whom she calls her good luck charm. “I told her, ‘You’re coming with me. I need moral support.’”
They met Bebe Cool and his wife Zuena at a serene venue, flanked by his team and surrounded by good vibes. “He was so down-to-earth,” Jemima said. “I expected him to say, ‘Meet me somewhere,’ but no, he picked me up himself. That shows a lot about his character.”
Over lunch, they talked about music, African artists, and the challenges of pushing meaningful content in a fast-moving digital world. He asked her about her favorite musicians, her dreams, and even gave her a small cash gift as a token of appreciation.
“It was the conversation, the respect, the humility. Bebe Cool didn’t treat me like a random fan. He saw me, heard me, valued me.” Jemima’s story is more than a feel-good moment between a star and a fan. It reflects a cultural shift in Uganda where fans are no longer passive listeners but active promoters of homegrown art.
Released on May 29, Bebe Cool’s 16-track album Break the Chains has taken the Ugandan music scene by storm. All the songs debuted in Apple Music’s Uganda Top 100 within days of release. Tracks like Cheque and Boy Like Me have dominated the upper tiers of the charts. The album has also sparked a wave of nostalgia, pride, and renewed respect for one of Uganda’s longest-standing music icons.
“This album is different,” Jemima said emphatically. “We’ve been stuck in a cycle of shallow music with perverted lyrics and no substance. But this? This is music with meaning.” African Love, a collaboration with Nigerian star Yemi Alade, is her favorite track on the album. “First of all, I love everything African. I’m very patriotic. The song celebrates love in a way that’s culturally rooted. It’s beautiful.”
She also highlighted Home, a slow, string-rich ballad about redemption and self-reflection. “The message is so deep. It talks about rarely getting chances to make things right and how we must not waste those moments.” Bebe Cool’s shift in tone on Break the Chains is unmistakable. While he still carries his signature swagger and versatility—moving between Afrobeats, gospel, dancehall, and political commentary—the album feels like the work of an artist stepping into legacy-building mode.
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