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Tag: AFRIMA 2025

  • Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, others nominated for AFRIMA 2025

    Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, others nominated for AFRIMA 2025

    The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has unveiled the nominees for its 2025 edition, displaying a diverse range of talented African artists.

    With a record-breaking 10,717 entries, the competition is set to be fierce.

    Nigerian superstars Burna Boy and Davido lead the pack with five nominations each, including Album of the Year for their respective albums “No Sign of Weakness” and “5ive”.

    They’ll also compete in the Song of the Year and Best Collaboration categories.

    Other notable nominees include Shallipopi, who scored four nominations, including Artiste of the Year and Song of the Year for his collaboration “Laho”.

    Ayra Starr earned two nominations, including Artiste of the Year, where she’ll go up against Burna Boy, Davido, and Moroccan rapper El Grande Toto.

    Other strong contenders include South Africa’s DJ Maphorisa with five nominations, Morocco’s El Grande Toto with five, Senegal’s Mia Guissé with five, and Ghana’s Moliy who also secured five.

    Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, South Africa’s Tyla and Eswatini’s Uncle Waffles picked up four nominations each.

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    The awards ceremony will take place in Lagos from November 25 to 30, featuring various events such as the AFRIMA Music Village, Africa Music Business Summit, Nominees Party, and the grand finale on November 30.

    The event will be broadcast live to over 84 countries, highlighting African music’s global impact.

    AFRIMA jury member Delani Makhalima praised the nominees, saying, “For years our voices were not heard, but today African music is global. This is AFRIMA, the biggest music entity on the continent.”

    The diversity of nominees, including artists from Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, and the diaspora, reflects the richness and global reach of African music.

  • Tinubu backs AFRIMA 2025 as FG inaugurates LOC

    Tinubu backs AFRIMA 2025 as FG inaugurates LOC

    • Minister pledges partnership with Lagos

    Africa is set for another unforgettable celebration of music, culture, and creativity as Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has officially backed and endorsed the 2025 edition of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which will take place in Lagos from November 25-30.

    The President’s endorsement came in response to a letter from the African Union Commission (AUC) requesting Nigeria’s collaboration for the next edition of the prestigious awards show.

    To follow up on the President’s nod, the Federal Government has immediately swung into action through the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs by setting up an inter ministerial Local Organising Committee (LOC) to work with the official Host City, Lagos, African Union and International Committee of AFRIMA to plan and deliver an historic event under the theme, ‘Unstoppable Africa.’

    Speaking during the inauguration of the federal government’s LOC at her office conference room in Abuja on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, said the ministry is fully ready to work hand-in-hand with the Lagos State Government and the International Committee of AFRIMA to host what she described as the best AFRIMA yet.

    According to the Minister, AFRIMA perfectly aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of leveraging the creative industry as a key driver of economic growth, national development, and social re-engineering.

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     “This is more than just an awards show,” Musawa said. “It is a major platform to create jobs, promote tourism, celebrate African talents, and tell our positive stories authentically through music to the world. We are excited to work with the Lagos State government, the AFRIMA team, and the African Union to deliver a world-class event.”

     Also, speaking at the event, Mrs. Ugochi Akudo-Nwosu, the Director of Entertainment and Creative Economy in the ministry, conveyed the official message of President Tinubu’s approval and praised his support for the industry.

    “On behalf of the Honorable Minister and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and our agencies, we appreciate the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for granting us the opportunity, Nigeria opportunity, to host this historic event during this administration, and we also thank the Honourable Minister for providing a platform for us to collaborate with AFRIMA for this event to come true in November this year, and the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs as well, that is co-chair with our Honourable Minister, to make this dream come to pass,” she said.

    The newly inaugurated federal government‘s LOC for AFRIMA 2025 includes representatives from key federal ministries such as Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy; Information and National Orientation; Foreign Affairs; Interior; Youth; Education; and Aviation, among others.

     Also represented are top government agencies, including the Nigerian Film Corporation, National Film and Video Censors Board, and the National Council for Arts and Culture. Delegates from the AFRIMA International Committee and the African Union are also on board.

     President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mike Dada, expressed deep appreciation to the federal government for its swift response and full support.

    “We thank President Tinubu for his quick and visionary approval and backing of AFRIMA 2025,” Dada said. “This is not just an event approval. It’s a loud statement that the Nigerian government values the culture and creative industry (CCI) and its power to promote unity and prosperity across Africa.”

    He also thanked the Lagos State Government for accepting to be the official host city and for its valuable partnership, as well as its deliberate investment in the creative industry.

     “Nigeria has always been a creative and cultural powerhouse,” Dada said. “With this support, we are confident that this year’s AFRIMA will be an unforgettable celebration of African talent and creativity for the whole world to see. It is fantastic that the Federal Government has come on board, and we are happy that the Minister has mentioned that all of us are going to work together with the Host City, Lagos state, to deliver the best AFRIMA in history.”

     The awards returned to Nigeria after a successful event held in the city of Dakar, Senegal, hosted by President Macky Sall, and the 2025 edition is scheduled to be held from November 25 to 30 in Lagos.

    Broadcast live to 84 countries and in partnership with the African Union since 2014, AFRIMA is a global music awards aimed at developing, rewarding and promoting African music and talents globally via its seven core pillars of; Awards Ceremony, Music festivals, The AFRIMA kreative Academy, Business Music Hub, Talent Discovery and Promotion, Policy debate and Advisory; and Advocacy.

    The main AFRIMA events week will feature star-studded and world-class activities from November 25 -27 (Diamond Showcase), November 26 (Welcome Soiree), November 27-28 (Africa Music Business Summit), November 28 (AFRIMA Music Village-an evening of non-stop music and live performances from African artistes and nominees), November 29 (Nominees and Industry Party), November 30 (Award ceremony).

  • Sanwo-Olu: Lagos ready to host AFRIMA 2025

    Sanwo-Olu: Lagos ready to host AFRIMA 2025

    Lagos, the bustling cultural and commercial heartbeat of Nigeria, is once again highly favoured to host Africa’s most prestigious music celebration, All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared the state’s readiness to host the event.

    He made this commitment when he received a delegation from the African Union and the AFRIMA International Committee in his office.

    According to him,  Lagos is qualified to get the hosting right because of its status as the creative and cultural capital of Africa.

    Sanwo-Olu said hosting AFRIMA 2025 aligns with his administration’s vision to make the creative and tourism industry a major pillar of its development drive.

     “I am impressed by the diversity and calibre of the members of the AFRIMA International Committee. Seeing representatives from countries like Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, and South-Africa is a strong affirmation that AFRIMA is a global pan-Africa initiative, it is a true continental platform,” Sanwo-Olu said as he welcomed the team.

    Head of Culture and Acting Director for Social Development, Culture and Sport at the African Union Commission Ms. Angela Martins, commended the Governor for his continuous support of the arts and reaffirmed the AU’s long-standing partnership with AFRIMA.

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    “The African Union has been proud to partner with AFRIMA since 2014. Over the years, we’ve supported the awards to make sure they live up to their promise to celebrate and reward African talent and music and to promote our cultural values. Beyond entertainment, AFRIMA has become one of the tools through which we promote and communicate the African Union’s cultural policies and the wider vision of Agenda 2063, particularly in building the creative economy of the continet,” she said.

    AFRIMA President and Executive Producer Mike Dada, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for the state’s investment in the creative industry, stating that AFRIMA is positioned to create big opportunities for tourism, entertainment, jobs, and the economy for the host city.

    Dada said: “Under your leadership, Lagos has made great progress in the creative industry. You’ve been a strong supporter and a true promoter of talent and fresh ideas. Whether it’s film, fashion, music, or technology, your efforts have helped make Lagos stand out as Africa’s creative capital. We at AFRIMA truly appreciate your support, and we believe Lagos is more than ready to host an unforgettable AFRIMA 2025.

    “Since AFRIMA was birthed in 2014, and hosted in Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal, with road shows in over 22 countries around the world, we’ve remained committed to celebrating and uniting Africa through music. AFRIMA is not just about music, it also resonates with real human stories, we’ve seen dreams come through, talents discovered, and careers launched. More importantly, AFRIMA is helping to reshape the global narrative about Africa. We’re showing that Africa is not a continent of lack but a cultural powerhouse that supports development and economic growth.

    “With over 1,600 nominees, and their teams, more than 1,100 production crew members expected in 2025 and over 400 million global broadcast audience, Lagos won’t just host an event; the impact of the one-week festival will be massive, opening more doors for tourism, hospitality, and new economic opportunities for business in the sector and beyond.”

    Other members of the delegation received by Sanwo-Olu are: Director of Brand Communications at AFRIMA Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi from South Africa; Chief Experience Officer (CXO) from Nigeria Ms. Adenrele Niyi; an Australian-Kenyan and Regional Director for Eastern Africa Mr. Mike John Strano; and Mr. Francis Doku, Country Director for Ghana. Also in the delegation were Mr. Kenny Ogungbe from Nigeria, a member of the AFRIMA International Congress and Media Committee, Ms. Edwidge Goli from Cote d’Ivoire, who serves as Liaison and Partnership Advisory Executive, Francophone region; and Ms. Victoria Nkong from Nigeria, an AFRIMA Associate Producer.

    The African Union and AFRIMA International Committee will on May 13 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia officially announce and present the certificate to the host of the 2025 AFRIMA.