Iryn Namubiru, also known as Irene Namubiru is a female, Ugandan performing artist, resident in Paris, France.

Background[link]

She was born in Central Uganda. Namubiru attended several educational institutions, including:

• Bugema Adventist Senior Secondary School, in Luweero District
• Namasagali College, in Kamuli District,
• Airways Tourism & Hotel Institute and
• Stendhal University in Grenoble, France.

While at Namasagali College, Iryn met another current female, Ugandan, performing artist, who was attending the college at the same time; Juliana Kanyomozi. They became friends.

Music career[link]

According to Iryn, she has always had a passion for singing since her childhood and always strove to make this talent a bigger part of her life. Her first major attempt at success in the music industry came in 1995 when she joined singers Ragga Dee and Messe^{[disambiguation needed ]} to release a single. Soon after wards, she had her first stage appearance in September 1995.^[1]

In 1999, she joined Juliana Kanyomozi, her former school mate at Namasagali College, and together they formed the R&B all-girl group called I-Jay.^[2] In 2000, they released their first single which got 'moderate' air play on radio stations in Uganda.

Soon after the release of their record, Iryn left for France and the group disbanded. This break up would later lead to wide speculation that the two separated on unfriendly terms although they both denied such rumors. While in France, she formed the Afro-Soul group Nujeli together with Julien Grout and they released songs like Nsangi, Eko, Ensi and Baami Baffe. But these songs were not successful in Uganda. Later on, Iryn joined forces with singer Bebe Cool in the songs Simbalala and Lwaki Onzannyilako?.

However, Iryn didn't achieve widespread success until 2006 when she released her album Nkuweeki?.^[3] This marked the beginning of her fast rise to be one of the best female musicians in Uganda. Since 2006, Iryn Namubiru has released several successful songs like Y'ono, Lwaki, Bonna Obasinga " Begombeko", " Birowoozo", which have earned her several leading awards in the Ugandan music industry. In 2011, Iryn capped her most successful year ever by winning in four categories of the 2011 PAM(Pearl of Africa Music) Awards. She won in the categories of Artist of the year, Female Artist of the year, Album of the year and Best RnB single of the year.

Controversies[link]

Iryn Namubiru has been widely criticized by her detractors for dressing "inappropriately" in her music videos and at times, her concerts. Her critics charge that her costumes go against the traditional Ugandan way of dressing and set a bad example for other aspiring musicians. In 2009, her video for the hugely successful Bonna Obasinga was panned by several people, several of them fans, for going too far with the swimming costume she wore. She later decided to shoot another video for the song to placate her critics. However, many of her fans have defended her "creative" dressing against such accusations and blame them on those who are still socially backward and are not willing to try out new styles.^[4]

Personal life[link]

Iryn is married to Julien Groult, a Frenchman, and together, they have two sons.^[5][6] She is fluent in English, French and Luganda, her native tongue. She balances her career between her family in France, where she lives, and Uganda, where most of her music fans reside.

External links[link]

• Namubiru Was "Pearl of Africa Music Awards Female Artist of The Year" In 2006
• Namubiru Tours The US In 2007
• Namubiru Releases 15 New Songs In 2007
• Namubiru Performs With Jose Chameleone In 2008

See also[link]

• Namasagali College
• Juliana Kanyomozi
• Jose Chameleone

References[link]

Bobi Wine (real name Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi,) is a musician from Uganda

He was born on 12 February 1982 in Mpingi District South West of Kampala District, who was baptised Robert Kyagulanyi in the Roman Catholic Church. He went to Makerere University in Kampala. He started making music in the early 2000s. His first singles were Akagoma, Funtula and Sunda (featuring Ziggy D), which brought Bobi Wine into the limelight.^[1] He was previously part of the group Fire Base Crew. Later he formed new group Ghetto Republic of Uganja, which he leads.^[2]

In 2009 he toured the United States ^[3]

In 2009 musician Bebe Cool was hospitalised after Bobi Wine beat him during a show in Kampala. Bobi Wine has also been charged for erecting a building without the permission of the Kampala City Council ^[4]

The Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) has given him a professional boxing license.^[5]

Awards[link]

Won:

• 2005 Pearl of Africa Music Awards - Song of the Year ("Mama Mbiire" with Juliana Kanyomozi) ^[6]
• 2006 Pearl of Africa Music Awards - Artiste of the Year & Best Afro Beat Single ("Bada")^[7]
• 2007 Pearl of Africa Music Awards - Best Afro-Beat Artiste/Group Best Afro-Beat Single ("Kiwani") ^[8]
• 2008 Pearl of Africa Music Awards - Best Afro-Beat Artiste/Group ^[9]

Nominated:

• 2006 Tanzania Music Awards - Best East African Album ("Mama Mbiire").^[10]
• 2007 Kisima Music Awards - Best Song Uganda ("Bada") ^[11]
• 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards - Best Video ("Little Things You Do" with Wahu) ^[12]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website (through archive.org)
• Bobi Wine News, Videos and Photos

Bebe Cool (born 1 September 1977) (real name Moses Ssali) is a ragga musician from Uganda. He started his career around 1997 in Nairobi, Kenya, but a few years later he moved back to his native country. Together with Redsan and his compatriot Chameleone, Bebe Cool was one of the first artists affiliated with Ogopa DJs, a production house and record label in Kenya.

Two of his popular singles are "Fitina" and "Mambo Mingi".^[1] He also collaborated with Halima Namakula, a Ugandan veteran woman musician, on their crossover track "Sambagala". He has released two solo albums, Maisha and Senta. His lyrics are in Luganda, Swahili, and English.

Bebe Cool has won several awards at the Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards).^[2] He was nominated for the Kora All-African Awards in 2003 and 2005. He has toured in the UK and the US.^[3]

Together with Kenyan duo Necessary Noize, Bebe Cool has formed a reggae group known as the East African Bashment Crew. They have released one album, Fire, and two hit singles, "Africa Unite" and "Fire". The group is nominated at the inaugural (2008) MTV Africa Music Awards.^[4]

In January 2010 he was injured when a policeman shot at him.^[5]

On 11 July 2010, Bebe Cool was performing at the Kyadondo Rugby Club when a bomb set by Somali Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab exploded (July 2010 Kampala attacks). According to Cool, "Most people who died were just in front of me. The blast was so loud—the next thing I saw were body parts flying over." ^[6]

Bebe Cool is husband to model and former Miss Uganda contestant Zuena Kirema and is now a father of two; one son and daughter, Alpha Thierry and Beata, respectively.

Awards[link]

Won:

• 2004 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) - Best Reggae Artiste/Group^[7]
• 2005 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) - Best Reggae Artiste/Group^[8]
• 2006 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) - Best Reggae Artiste/Group^[9]
• 2006 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) -Song of the Year^[10]
• 2007 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) - Best Reggae Artiste/Group^[11]
• 2007 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) - Best Male Artiste^[12]
• 2007Channel O Music Video Awards -Video of the year^[13]
• 2008 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) - Best Male Artist & Best Reggae Artiste/Group & Best Ragga Artiste/Group^[14]
• 2010 Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM Awards) - Artist of the Year 2010,Best Reggae Artiste/Group and Album of the year^[15]

2011 best male artisit of the year

Nominated:

• 2003 Kora Awards - Best East African Artist ^[16]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Musicuganda.com - Bebe Cool