Cool's emphatic return

By David Tumusiime

Bebe Cool threatened to sue the Pearl of Africa Music Awards (PAM) organisers in 2009. Then, the awards were going through a major turbulence and the singer did not want to be associated with them.

But not any more. The musician, who is undergoing treatment and rehabilitation in the United States —for bullet injuries — was clearly ecstatic to be declared the 2010 PAM awards Artiste of the Year last Saturday.

He went ahead to dedicate the award to all and sundry.

"I dedicate the awards to Allah, my mother, President Yoweri Museveni, my wife and kids, brothers and sisters, producers, DJs, friends and fans. No weapon formed against me shall prosper," Bebe Cool wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday morning, after learning of the win.

Dedication To Museveni

Dedicating the award to Uganda’s President may not come as a surprise.

Museveni, fondly referred to as M7, is said to have footed all the medical and living expenses for Bebe Cool, his wife and nurse in the US to enable the reggae star get the best possible medical treatment.

Bebe Cool was the envy of the night. Besides scooping the prestigious Artiste of the Year trophy, his new Kasepiki release was named the Album of the Year.

He was also crowned the Reggae Artiste of the Year.

The Best Female Artiste award went to Iryn Namubiru while the Radio and Weasel duo got honoured as the Best Male Artistes.

Other winners were Eddy Kenzo (Best New Artiste), Samalie Matovu (Song of the Year — Omukwano Gunyuma), Benon Mugumbya (Audio Producer), Silver Kyagulanyi (Songwriter of the year), Navio (Video of the Year — Raw) and GNL Zamba (Best Hip-hop Single), among others.

Disagreements Settled

The awards were making a return after a one-year hiatus that saw singer Juliana Kanyomozi hold the Artiste of the Year spot for two years.

The awards, held at the Uganda Manufacturer’s Association Hall in Lugogo, did, however, score a major point as both sections of the ordinary and VIP were filled to capacity.

Last year, PAM Awards suffered a major blow after its disgruntled shareholders went to court as allegations of mismanagement reigned.

"I have always said that the disagreements would not be settled in court but in the board room as the matter touches on the shareholders," the award’s CEO Isaac Mulindwa told Pulse adding that all the differences had been settled.