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Tag: AFRIMA

  • Ambode hosts Africa as AFRIMA holds sway

    Ambode hosts Africa as AFRIMA holds sway

    THE Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, last weekend, threw the doors of the state open as he hosted the 2016 edition of the annual All Africa Music Awards.

    The event witnessed an array of officials of the African Union and African music superstars; AFRIMA past winners; 2016 nominees; top government functionaries; members of the diplomatic corps, corporate Africa, stakeholders in the creative/ entertainment industry in Africa, media executives, and music artistes.

    With 42 countries of the African continent in attendance including African Union officials, Nigerian Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, was represented by Senator Babafemi Ojodu.

    The governor had, on Saturday November 5, hosted foreign delegates and nominees of AFRIMA, ambassadors and the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Zimbabwe, Honourable Anastarcia Ndulovu, to a dinner at the State House, Ikeja.

    While welcoming his guests at the Governor’s Lodge, Ambode reiterated Lagos State’s vision of making the city an undeniable entertainment capital of Africa, as well as being the hub of creative expressions in the continent. This, he opined, will open up the economic-viable state for more foreign and local investors.

    On Sunday, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, the governor played host to over 5,000 guests and 2100 international delegates at the third annual All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA which was broadcast live to countries around the world.

    Ambode was accompanied by his wife, (Mrs.) Bolanle Ambode; the state’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, and hundreds of government officials including commissioners, has successfully placed Lagos as the first state in the country and on the continent to officially host thousands of Africa’s stars in the city.

  • AU, AFRIMA delivers top show

    AU, AFRIMA delivers top show

    •As African artistes storm Lagos for award

    Africa came together Sunday night to celebrate one of its shining glories, artistry in the form of music, as the third edition of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, practically shutdown Lagos.

    Political stalwarts, economic bigwigs, legendary artistes were among the thousands who thronged the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, venue of the annual award ceremony to celebrate. From Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, the AFRIMA fever could be felt.

    Inside Eko Hotel, venue of the show, it was a different ball game as entertainers from all over Africa set the AFRIMA red carpet alight.

    Although the show was off to a slow start, once it gained momentum, there was no stopping. Interspersed with music, dance and other forms of entertainment, one after the other, winners were called to receive their plaques.

    A night of surprises, rapper and actor, Falz emerged AFRIMA 2016 Revelation of the year, while Diamond Platnumz bagged the award for Song of the Year. Phyno was named African Fans Favorite award with Fada Fada and Aramide beat Yemi Alade to clinch the Best Female West Africa.

    Nigeria’s Flavour Nabania took home two awards; Best Artiste/Duo/Group/Band in African Contemporary and Best Male West Africa.

    Continuing in his winning streak, Nigeria’s Wizkid, beat Tiwa Savage, Tekno Diamond Platnumz, Sarkodie, Navio & Eddy Kenzo and South Africa’s Black Coffee to win the most coveted category; Artiste of the Year.

    Nigeria Juju music legend, King Sunny Ade, together with Cameroun’s Manu Dibango, was presented with a Special Recognition Award.

    Prior to Sunday’s superlative show, organisers put together two events; The Africa Music Business Roundtable and a Music Village. While the business roundtable featured discussion on African music and it’s economic benefits, the Music Village is the paraded a Femi Kuti-led array of stars, numbering over forty at the Lagos Bar Beach Waterfront.

    Featuring the likes of Tanzania’s Diamond Patinumz, Ghana’s Sarkodie, Nigeria’s Patorankin and a host of others, the show starting from 8pm on the day, through the night to the wee hours of the morning. Nneka, World acclaimed Europe based Nigerian Afrorock Star became the surprise of the night was simply Awesome.

    Among dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode; his wife, Bolanle; Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule; Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Presidential Adviser of Political Matter, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Senator Olamilekan Yayi and a host of others.

  • Photos: Ambode, Lai at AFRIMA

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), with his wife, Bolanle (2nd right); Minister for Information, Culture & Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (right) and Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (left) during the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) 3.0 at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos
    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), with his wife, Bolanle (2nd right); Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (right) and Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (left) during the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) 3.0 at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos

     

    L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with his wife, Bolanle, being welcomed to the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) 3.0 by its President/Executive Producer, Mr. Mike Dada at the Eko Convention Centre.
    L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, with his wife, Bolanle, being welcomed to the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) 3.0 by its President/Executive Producer, Mr Mike Dada at the Eko Convention Centre.

     

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left); his wife, Bolanle (middle); Minister for Information, Culture & Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (3rd right); Comedian, Atunyota Akporobome known as Ali Baba (2nd right); President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada (right); Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (left) and Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (King Sunny Ade) during the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) 3.0
    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left); his wife, Bolanle (middle); Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (3rd right); Comedian, Atunyota Akporobome known as Ali Baba (2nd right); President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada (right); Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (left) and Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (King Sunny Ade) during the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) 3.0

     

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), flanked his wife, Bolanle (right) and Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (left) during the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) 3.0
    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), flanked his wife, Bolanle (right) and Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (left) during the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) 3.0
  • One night, two venues, three awards for Wizkid 

    One night, two venues, three awards for Wizkid 

    … Artiste grabs two laurels at MTV EMAs, one at AFRIMA

     

    They are top of the rang trophies from the two continental award ceremonies that took place Sunday night in Rotterdam, Netherlands and Lagos, Nigeria, leaving rave-of-the-moment pop star, Ayodeji Balogun, aka Wizkid shoulder-high with ‘Best African Act’ and ‘Worldwide Act’ at the MTV Europe Music Awards, EMA, and ‘Artiste of the Year’ at the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, respectively.

    In Rotterdam, the Nigerian act was topped only by Justin Bieber, who took home three trophies: Best Song, Best Fans and Best Canadian Act. He however matched Lady Gaga who won trophies for Best Female and Best Look.

    The encomium was quite resounding for Wizkid at the Eko Hotel, Lagos, venue of AFRIMA, where the trophy was received on his behalf by Beat FM’s OAP, Olisa Adibua.

    This feat is coming exactly 11 days after the Star Boy, as he is also called, clinched the ‘Best International Act Africa’ laurel at the ‘Music of Black Origin’ (MOBO) Awards, where he beat Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Olamide and seven other nominees.

    It is indeed a year of harvest for the artiste who, only two weeks ago was celebrated as the biggest winner at the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) in Johannesburg, grabbing three awards – Best Male, Artist of the Year and Best Collaboration Africa.

    This year’s EMA win for Wizkid followed the success of Tanzanian artiste, Diamond Platnumz who was the Worldwide Act winner last year.

    The award ceremony was as usual, resplendent with music and stunning visuals on the 2016 MTV EMAs stage, featuring epic performances that took over Rotterdam and aired live around the world.

    Host of the show, Bebe Rexha kicked off the global music celebration, crashing through the ceiling to start the party, followed by superstar Bruno Mars who delivered an upbeat performance of his smash single 24K Magic, lighting up the stage with his dance moves.

    Global phenomenon Green Day also returned to the EMAs stage with a vengeance, honoured with the night’s prestigious milestone award, Global Icon. After an explosive performance of Bang Bang, the group closed the show just days ahead of the US election with American Idiot.

    Wizkid was one of six artists from around the globe who were named as Worldwide Act winners; his fellow honourees were Shawn Mendes (Canada), Zara Larsson (Sweden), Maluma (Columbia), GOT7 (Korea) and Troye Sivan (Australia).

    The Nigerian multiplatinum R&B stunner made his EMA stage debut with the first global performance of his smash single ‘Starboy’. The performance began in a star-filled dome, which opened to reveal the singer.

    Host Bebe Rexha slayed her hosting duties while bringing the live debut of her new single I’ve Got U to the EMAs stage. Earlier in the show, she teamed with friend and the world’s no. 1 DJ Martin Garrix for a stirring duet of In The Name of Love with a full string orchestra.

    Best Push winners DNCE brought the party by performing Cake by the Ocean and Body Moves on a floating platform over the audience, complete with crowd surfers on inflatable donuts, cakes and pizza.

    Best Male winner Shawn Mendes wowed the crowd as he emerged from a holographic pyramid, while playing piano for a moving rendition of his hit Mercy.

    Best New Act recipient Zara Larsson shook the arena with a fierce medley of her massive hits, Lush Life and Ain’t My Fault.

    Lukas Graham commanded the stage with a passionate medley of their hits against a glittering backdrop of stars, culminating in a full-on orchestra for their smash ballad 7 Years.

    OneRepublic wowed the audience by performing their new track Let’s Hurt Tonight as rain poured down from the stage, soaking the band while they serenaded fans.

    Hometown hero and EMA Music Week Ambassador Afrojack rocked the house with his smash hits Gone and Hey.

    The official international sponsor of the 2016 MTV EMAs is Évos headphones and regional sponsor is Smirnoff.

     

    2016 MTV EMA WINNERS

     

    BEST SONG

    Justin Bieber – Sorry

    BEST VIDEO

    The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – Starboy

     

    BEST FEMALE

    Lady Gaga

    BEST MALE

    Shawn Mendes

    BEST AFRICAN ACT

    Wizkid

    WORLDWIDE ACT

    Troye Sivan – Australia

    Shawn Mendes – Canada

    Maluma – Columbia

    GOT7 – Korea

    Wizkid – Nigeria

    Zara Larsson – Sweden

    BEST LIVE

    Twenty One Pilots

    BEST NEW

    Zara Larsson

    BEST POP

    Fifth Harmony

    BEST ROCK

    Coldplay

    BEST ALTERNATIVE

    Twenty One Pilots

    BEST HIP HOP

    Drake

    BEST ELECTRONIC

    Martin Garrix

    BEST PUSH

    DNCE

    BIGGEST FANS

    Justin Bieber

    BEST LOOK

    Lady Gaga

    GLOBAL ICON AWARD

    Green Day

    BEST WORLD STAGE

    Martin Garrix – Isle of MTV, Malta (2015)

     

  • Wizkid, Flavour, others emerge winners in AFRIMA 3.0

    Wizkid, Flavour, others emerge winners in AFRIMA 3.0

    The 2016 edition of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, was held on Sunday night in Lagos with winners emerging in various categories.

    The event was attended by celebrities from all over Africa who turned up looking their best.

    1. Best Male East Africa – Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
    2. Best Female East Africa – Cindy Sanyu (Uganda)
    3. Best Male South Africa – Black Coffee (South Africa)
    4. Best female South Africa – Sally Boss Madam (Namibia)
    5. Best Male Central Africa- Wax Dey (Cameroon)
    6. Best Female Central Africa- Bruna Tatiana (Angola)
    7. Best Male North Africa – DJ Van (Morocco)
    8. Best Female North Africa- Zina Daoudia (Morocco)
    9. Best Male West Africa – Flavour (Nigeria)
    10. Best Female West Africa – Aramide (Nigeria)
    11. Best Inspirational Female – Naomi Achu (Cameroon)
    12. Best Artiste/Dou/GroupBand in African Contemporary- Flavour (Nigeria)
    13. Most Promising Artiste- Amine Aub (Morocco)
    14. African Fans Favorite – Phyno (Nigeria)
    15. Song writer of the year – Unique (Uganda)
    16. Special Recognition Award- King Sunny Ade (Nigeria)
    17. Best Artist/Duo/Group African Hiphop- Stanley Enow (Cameroon)
    18. Best Artist/Duo/Group African Ragga & Dancehall- Patoranking (Nigeria)
    19. Best Artist/Duo/Group African Traditional music- Zeynab (Benin)
    20. Best Artist/Duo/Group African Electro -Such (Zimbabwe)
    21. Best Artist/Duo/Group African RnB – Henok & Mehari Brothers (Ethiopia)
    22. Best Artist/Duo/Group in African Rock -M’vula (Angola)
    23. Best African Jazz – Jimmy Dludlu (South Africa)
    24. Best African Group -VVIP (Ghana)
    25. Best African Collaboration – Mbilo Mbilo by Eddy Kenzo (Uganda) ft Niniola (Nigeria)
    26. Video of the Year – Dogo Yaro by VVIP (Ghana)
    27. Revelation of the year – Falz (Nigeria)
    28. Album of the year – Ahmed Soultan (Morocco)
    29. Song of the year- Utanipenda Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
    30. Artist of the Year -Wizkid (Nigeria)

  • AFRIMA UNVEILS HOSTS

    IN putting finishing touches to its preparations, the African Union and the International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, have unveiled the hosts of the 2016 edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

    The hosts for the show billed to hold tomorrow in Lagos, Nigeria, are Bonang Matheba, Ahmed Soultan, Ika Jong, and Hauwa Allahbura.

    According to the organisers, the hosts for the show proper, who were drawn from the three majorly spoken languages in Africa— English, French and Arabic— are Ahmed Soultan (Morocco); Ms Bonang Matheba (South Africa) and Ika Jang (Congo).

    Ahmed Soultan is a Moroccan music star, who is also an AFRIMA double award winner. He is a leader of the Moroccan Group, Nayda. Soultan is a multilingual artiste and celebrity, who speaks English, French, Portuguese and Arabic fluently. He has performed at the GLO CAF Awards and he is also a nominee for one of the categories of AFRIMA 2016. His albums include Music Has No Boundaries (2004), Tolerance (2005) and Code (2009).

    Bonang Matheba is a versatile South African media personality, who anchors the popular SABC 1 Music Live Show. She is also a winner of the International Golden Horn Award for Best TV Presenter. Ika Jong, a multi-talented bilingual Congolese TV Broadcaster and celebrity.

    However, the Red Carpet hosts will be: Denrele Edun, Hauwa AllahBura, Pam Happi, and Denola Grey; a style blogger, model, fashion enthusiast, broadcaster on Ebonylife TV, Nigeria, who has carved a niche for himself in the fashion industry.

    Thousands of guests are expected at the award night from across Africa and the world. The event will hold inside the prestigious Convention Centre of the Eko Hotels & Suites.

  • AFRIMA kicks off with music business roundtable

    AFRIMA kicks off with music business roundtable

    As the countdown clock ticks for the 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) event, the African Union and the International Committee of AFRIMA adding to the event, revealed in a statement that the event will kick-off with “Africa Music Business Roundtable.”

    The Africa Music Business Roundtable which is slated for Friday November 4, 2016 will take place at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, Nigeria.

    According to the organisers, the roundtable which comes with the theme “Economic Power of Music for a New Africa” will be a discussion platform to interrogate and strategise on the structure of the music industry in Africa while charting a synergistic way forward for development and economic empowerment, a think tank that will unfold to artistes and stakeholders.

    The brainstorming sessions, which have been divided into parts, will give a deep insight into the unexplored and ill exploited economic values of Africa Music.

    Position papers will be presented by a diverse assemblage of eminent personalities drawn from the various economic strata of the society. These will include musicians, musicologists, businessmen, bankers, investors and big players in the Africa Music Industry. Some of the panelists include; Karima Damir (Morocco);  Nde Ndifonka (Cameroon): Tony Okoroji (Nigeria); Robert Ekukole (Cameroon); Yeni Kuti (Nigeria); Ricki Stein (Uk); Mike Strano (Kenya) among others

    Also debuting on AFRIMA’s 2016 programme of events is the Africa Music Village which has been slated for 5pm on November 4 at the Waterfront, Bar Beach, Lagos, Nigeria. The one-day AFRIMA Music Village is a non-stop festival style open music concert with live performances from Femi Kuti and 30 other African superstars and AFRIMA 2016 nominees. The A-list artistes include; Kiss Daniel, Fally Pupa, Victoria Kimani, Diamond Platnumz, VVIP, Brymo and a host of others. This event is free entry.

    Artistes and participants at this year’s AFRIMA would also have a taste of the new Lagos in a guided tour of Eko Atlantic City, popularly called the 8th WONDER OF THE WORLD. The tour will also include the Oba of Lagos’ Palace and other historic places in Lagos.

    In partnership with The African Union Commission, AUC and the Official Host City, Lagos State, AFRIMA 2016 grand awards ceremony holds on Sunday, November 6 with thousands of guests expected in Lagos for the various events. Awards ceremony is a glittery, star-studded and world-class event with live performances and television broadcast to 84 countries on 109 television stations around the world.

  • AFRIMA 2016: AFRICAN STARS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO MANU DIBANGO, KSA, PAPA WEMBA

    AFRICAN music stars will perform to honour three of Africa’s renowned music legends, Manu Dibango, King Sunny Ade and Papa Wemba, at this year’s All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, on Sunday, November 6 at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.

    In partnership with the African Union Commission, AUC, and the support of the Official Host City, Lagos State, AFRIMA 2016 grand awards ceremony is preceded by The AFRIMA Music Village on Friday November 4, 2016, a non-stop music concert with over 40 African artistes performing live at the Waterfront, Bar Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    “Contemporary African stars will be pledging their loyalty to these grassroot legends of African music to show the beauty of their music through outstanding performances on stage during the AFRIMA awards,” said President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada, describing the three music icons as the ‘voices of African music and the epitome of Africanness.’

    “It is also a means of showing the younger generation that they can connect to music made by older generations of artistes and use this to unite the world through music.”

    Some of the top African artistes billed to honour the legacy of the three African legends include: Kiss Daniel (Nigeria); Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania); Brymo (Nigeria); Wax Dey (Cameroon); Seyi Shay (Nigeria); FallyIpupa (DRC), YemiAlade (Nigeria); Victoria Kimani (Kenya); Tiwa Savage (Nigeria); Aramide (Nigeria); Niniola (Nigeria); YCee (Nigeria); TJAN (Nigeria) and Flavour (Nigeria) among others.

    Eighty two year-old Cameroonian saxophonist and vibraphone player Manu Dibango, nicknamed ‘The Lion of Cameroon’, is recognised for developing a music style fusing jazz, funk and traditional Cameroonian music. His song “Soul Makossa” has influenced several music hits, including Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin”, as well as his recording of that song with Akon, the Fugees’ “Cowboys”, and Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” and Comedian Eddie Murphy in his 1982 parody song “Boogie in your butt”.

    Artiste-in-Residence at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist and two-time Grammy award nominee, known for his pioneering of modern world music.

    And Papa Wemba, the late iconic musician from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who died at age 67 on April 24, 2016 during a stage performance in Cote d’Ívoire, also pioneered a blend of African, Cuban and Western sounds which became one of Africa’s most popular music styles. Dubbed the ‘King of Rhumba Rock’, Papa Wemba was also a fashion icon who popularised the La Sape look and style through his musical group Viva la Musica, with whom he performed on stages throughout the world.

    Meanwhile, public voting continues on AFRIMA website.

  • AFRIMA, AU partner Felabration, congratulate KSA at 70

    AFRIMA, AU partner Felabration, congratulate KSA at 70

    The International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards and the African Union Commission, AUC, has announced it partnership with 2016 edition of Felabration, the annual festival to celebrate late Afrobeat creator, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

    The decision to support the 2016 edition of Felabration with the theme, Everybody Say Yeah Yeah was reached last week when daughter of late music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Ms Yeni Kuti, visited the AFRIMA Secretariat in Lagos.

    Felabration kicks off on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 with Secondary Schools Debate while the week-long festivities start on Monday, October 10, 2016. The topic for the debate is “Reparation: Yes or No?”

    AFRIMA’s Associate Producer, Ms Adenrele Niyi, disclosed AFRIMA’s support for the Felabration, especially the secondary schools debate.

    “There’s no better way to begin this partnership with Felabration than through the school debate for secondary school students in Lagos State,” said Ms Niyi.

    “It creates the perfect platform for the AFRIMA Foundation to purse her Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in Lagos State, the 2016 Official Host City for AFRIMA through our CSR initiative, Educate-A-Child (Our Voice).”

    She said that AFRIMA will reward participating schools and winners with prizes.

    “Our goal is to encourage young people that education is rewarding and to show that learning will help them understand and take pride in their cultural heritage,” Ms Niyi said. Fela Kuti won the 2014 AFRIMA Legend Award.

    Thanking AFRIMA and AU for hosting this edition’s debate, Yeni Kuti said, “We want to keep Fela’s love of culture and learning alive among young people.”

    Fela Kuti, a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer and pioneer of Afrobeat music, was born on 15 October 1938 and died on August 2, 1997.

    Also, in a statement, AFRIMA congratulated juju music maestro King Sunny Ade on clocking 70 years last Thursday and recognised the contributions of the Ondo State born artiste whose real name is Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, for making juju music globally accepted especially with its lyrics and instrumentations.

    “King Sunny Ade has proved to be an icon of hope, a representation of what African stands for in its rich cultural heritage and the need to bring on board, the old and modern genre of music without causing confusion,” said Mr. Mike Dada, AFRIMA’s Executive Producer.

    “We see him as a legend whose lyrics and beats stand the test of time and still remain relevant in the contemporary music world.”

    According to AFRIMA, it recognised the many achievements of KSA, as he is fondly called. KSA, whose album, Odu, was nominated for a Grammy in 1998, is also the first African to be nominated twice for the Grammys. He was the first Nigerian to have a collaboration with American music star, Stevie Wonder for his album, Aura and aside being appointed a visiting professor of music at the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, KSA was also inducted into the Afropop Hall of Fame at the Brooklyn African Festival in the US.

    AFRIMA 2016 grand awards ceremony holds on Sunday, November 6 at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos while the Africa Music Business Summit and the AFRIMA Music Village, an open concert-style festival featuring nominees and other top billed music stars, hold on Friday, November 4.

  • AU, AFRIMA RELEASE FULL NOMINEES LIST

    TWO weeks after the Nominees list for the Regional Categories of the awards were unveiled on Monday, August 22 at a Press Conference in Lagos, the 2016 AFRIMA Continental Nominees List was released to the public via the media and on the AFRIMA website www.afrima.org on Tuesday, September 6.

    The 22 continental nomination categories include different music genres, as well as coveted categories of “Artiste of the Year in Africa”, “Best Video in Africa”, “Best Producer in Africa”, “Best Songwriter in Africa” and “Revelation of the Year in Africa”.

    This year also saw the introduction of an innovative category by the International Jury of AFRIMA titled “African Fans Favourite”, to recognize African artistes who create chartbusting, anthemic songs that propel the artistes to great popularity within and outside their respective countries and regions.

    Reiterating the Jury’s position on fairness and transparency, Associate Producer, AFRIMA, Ms. Adenrele Niyi, said the gap between when the Regional and Continental Nominees List were released was necessary for the Jury to ‘painstakingly review and grade the qualified entries submitted and carefully and accurately fit them into their appropriate categories’.

    “There is the need to be accurate right from the process of verifying eligibility of entries, to the process of collating and finalizing results. Screening and selection of entries are evolving processes which we work painstakingly at to ensure transparency and fairness”, Ms. Niyi stated.

    The Regional Categories which featured Best Female Artistes and Best Male Artistes of the five regions, nominated 65 artistes while 184 nominees make up the newly released continental categories with online public voting expected to begin on Monday, September 12 on the AFRIMA voting platform domiciled on www.afrima.org

    Public voting for the nominees in the different categories of the awards opens on Monday, September 12 and ends Saturday, November 5.

    In partnership with the AUC and the Official Host City, Lagos State, AFRIMA 3.0. calendar of events for November 4-6, 2016 will include the Africa Music Business Summit on Friday, November 4, and the AFRIMA Music Village, an open concert-style festival featuring nominees and other top billed music stars. The grand awards ceremony holds on Sunday, November 6 with over 6,000 guests expected in Lagos, Nigeria for the various events.