Tag: AFRIMA

AS part of the activities to the build-up for the 2016 edition of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), African Union Commission (AUC) and The International Committee of AFRIMA paid a courtesy visit to the former  Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday March 26, 2016 at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Obasanjo commended AFRIMA and AUC for unifying Africa through music, saying music was part of African Culture and reiterated the need for music and culture to be commercialised in order to create jobs and reduced poverty among African youths. He implored AFRIMA and AUC not to relent in achieving their objectives and called on brands and governments in Africa to partner with AFRIMA. He recalled similar projects as president like All African Games (COJA 2003) and Festival of Art and Culture in Africa (FESTAC ’77) as platforms for promoting African culture and unity that require huge resources to organise.

Obasanjo thanked AFRIMA for their visit and challenged the AFRIMA Executive Producer to a squash game thereafter.

Earlier in his opening remark, the President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada said, “the meeting and visit was in recognition of the former president as the former Chairperson of the African Union (AU) between July 2004 to January 2006. He is an African global icon, a cultural enthusiast and champion of African renaissance.”

Dada also specially invited Obasanjo to the 2016 AFRIMA scheduled to hold in November.

A giant photo frame for his 79 birthday and Djembe drum were presented to the Former President by the AFRIMA Director of Sponsorship and Communications, MatlouTsotsesi with the support of the AFRIMA 2015 winner of Best RnB & Soul in Africa, Praiz and Communication Manager, ONE Campaign Africa, NdeNfodinka (Wax Dey).

The 30-man AFRIMA team comprised of AFRIMA Associate Co-Producer, EfeOmorogbe, AFRIMA jury Member, Mr. Laolu Akins, AFRIMA media Committee member and Mr. BiodunKupoluyi, AFRIMA Production Manager, Mr. Henry Alade and Entertainment Editor of The Sun Newspaper, Mr.TosinAjirire among others.

In partnership with the African Union Commission, AUC, The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, is a music property developed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical culture of Africa, stimulate conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the globe about the great potentials and values of the African culture and artistic heritage for the purpose of creating jobs, reducing poverty, calling attention of world leaders to Africa and promoting the positive image of Africa to the world.

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As the November 15 date slated for this year’s edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) inches close, partnering agency, the African Union Commission (AUC) in conjunction with the International Committee of AFRIMA, have expressed interest in four Nigerian cities, including Port Harcourt, Lagos, Uyo, and Calabar, for the hosting right of the continental event.

The four states have since been asked, by the AUC, to indicate their interest to host AFRIMA 2015.

AUC’s Commissioner for social affairs, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko stated that “the main purpose of the partnership is to showcase the tourism and economic potentials of one of the great cities in Africa and promote its strengths to a global audience which in turn adds to the GDP of the state and the continent at large.”

He noted that hosting AFRIMA presents a lot of benefits that would help in raising the continental and international profile of the host city.

Matlou Tsotetsi, Director of Sponsorship and Communication, AFRIMA, adds that the host city should be one that is willing to create value and deep brand equity not only for Nigerians but Africans. “It must have the most motivation to host AFRIMA in line with its values; have the strongest vision in tourism, culture and entertainment; have the most adequate facilities, surrounding Infrastructure, security and tourist attraction to host the event and should have hosted successful events in the past that attracted both national and or global audiences.”

AFRIMA is of the belief that Port Harcourt, Uyo, Calabar, and Lagos cities are capable of hosting this year‘s edition , even though all cities over the years have shown capacity in terms of security, political stability, tourism, culture preservation, entertainment and tourism.

AFRIMA is expected to be a star-studded event that will be broadcast to 84 countries on 109 television stations across the world.

The show will be preceded by the “Africa Music Summit” on November 13, themed “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa”. The Summit is a platform for the African music industry stakeholders to engage and deliberate on how the music industry in Africa can be nurtured in a way that adds to the GDP of the continent. The Summit will also examine opportunities for job creation in the vibrant music industry as a tool for reducing poverty and insecurity in Africa.

Organisers add that there will be the “AFRIMA Music Village,” taking place on November 13-14, as an open festival-style concert. Performing live each night will be different, high-selling African music stars bringing thrilling entertainment to more than 50000 audience members expected in attendance.

AS preparations towards the second edition of All Africa Music Award (AFRIMA) heighten, organisers have announced that a total of 2, 558 entries were submitted by musicians who will be contesting in different categories of the award.

To oversee these submissions which closed on Friday, July 31, the 13-man AFRIMA jury panel is also in Lagos.

The award ceremony which organisers say will be broadcast in 84 countries and on 109 television stations across the world is scheduled to take place in Lagos, on November 15, 2015.

Chairman, international media committee of AFRIMA, Steve Ayorinde, said, “The International Committee is excited about the quality of entries received this year, as many were from accomplished artistes in African music.” He noted that the huge response by musicians is a reflection of growth and acceptability of the vision and ideals of AFRIMA.

Ayorinde said the entries were received on the AFRIMA website and social media platforms from African artistes, record companies, and music/entertainment journalists from across the continent and the Diaspora whose works were produced between May 31, 2014 and July 31, 2015 in accordance with the stipulated guidelines by AFRIMA.

“But more exciting are the entries from artistes of African origin living abroad and non-African countries which shows the global recognition of AFRIMA, which is in partnership with the African Union Commission, ONE Campaign and Africa 2.0,” he said.

As part of the adjudication process which will last for seven days, the submitted works will be further screened by a 13-person jury panel which represents the five regions of Africa and the Diaspora, including Kenya, Senegal, Republic du Benin, Uganda, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, UK and USA as well as a representative from the African Union.

Oraganisers say as a follow up to the adjudication process, a nomination list will be released to the public on a later date in August 2015 to vote for a nominee in each of the 33 categories of the award.

“In line with our integrity, transparency and AFRIMA core values of FACE IT (Fairness, Authenticity, Creativity, Excellence, Integrity and Transparency), we will always ensure that the adjudication process, pre-selection process, the auditing phase, the nomination process, the voting process and the eventual winning stage are all transparent, ” said AFRIMA co-producer and Regional Director, East Africa, Mike Strano.