Ugandan music heavyweight Bebe Cool has kicked off the new year with a bang, promising fans a whirlwind of activity. On Friday, December 13, the singer dropped Circumference, the first single off his upcoming album, Break the Chains.
Since then, his schedule has been packed with travel, tending to personal commitments, and preparing for his annual Tondeka e’Kiwatule event on Boxing Day. Coffee Trade Centre
But Bebe Cool being Bebe Cool, this is a season where rest is a luxury. Earlier today, the artist announced via his social media platforms that the visuals for Circumference will be released on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
“Get ready for the most honest, bold, and most credible analysis of the Ugandan music industry,” he wrote, adding that fans will also be taken behind the scenes of the making of both the audio and video for Circumference.
However, before the highly anticipated video drop, Bebe Cool is set to deliver his annual tradition—the Bebe Cool List—on January 1. The list, which reviews the performance of Ugandan artists over the past year, has become a hallmark of controversy.
While some fans and artists appreciate his candid critique, others have criticized it as self-serving, especially when the singer includes himself among the top performers. This year, speculation is rife over whether Bebe Cool will include Circumference—a track only two weeks old—on the list.
The song itself has sparked debate, with some fans unimpressed by Bebe Cool’s pivot toward Afrobeats. Others, however, applaud his versatility and boldness in attempting to “break the chains” and expand his reach beyond Africa.
The Bebe Cool List has historically been both a unifying and polarizing force in Uganda’s music industry. While it has gained him new allies, it has also earned him fresh critics at the start of each year.
Fans are now counting down to January 1 to see which artists made the cut and to January 8 for what promises to be a captivating music video release.