The Nation Newspaper

Tag: All Africa Music Awards

  • AFRIMA withdraws hosting rights from Ghana

    The International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, (AFRIMA) has withdrawn the hosting rights from Republic of Ghana for the 2019 and 2020 editions of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, over lack of capacity by the Host Country to meet the financial and contractual obligations entered to on July 12, 2018, necessary to retain hosting the biggest music event in Africa.

    The decision was reached on Monday, July 15 after several months of meetings and consultations with relevant stakeholders to remedy the situation with the expectation that the Republic of Ghana would provide concrete assurances and guarantees to discharge its contractual obligations for hosting the 2019 and 2020 editions of AFRIMA after its disappointing performance on the contract during the 2018 edition of the Awards held in Accra between November 21 and 24 which the organisers successfully put together against all odds.

    It would be recalled that decision of the African Union (AU) and AFRIMA to award a three-term hosting right (2018-2020) of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) to Ghana followed the declaration of the President of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Akufo Addo of his desire to host the AFRIMA Awards in Ghana made on May 21, 2018 during the AFRIMA 2018 Calendar Unveiling Ceremony held in Accra. After initially complying to some of the host country responsibilities, Ghana’s hosting rights for the 5th

    AFRIMA was publicly announced by the African Union at the African Union Secretariat Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 5, 2018 and a letter signed by the Commissioner of Social Affairs, African Union, Mrs. Amira El Fadil dated September 13, 2018 to effect the hosting rights was dispatched to the Government of the Republic of Ghana through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Ghana.

    According to the International Advisor, AFRIMA, Mr. Rikki Stein, while thanking the young people and the media in Ghana said; “It was a hard decision for us to withdraw the awards hosting rights for the next two years (2019 and 2020 editions) from the Republic of Ghana. As an awards owned for the African people, it is structured to travel around the continent giving the people the true African experience. We have some fond memories of our time in Ghana immersing ourselves in the lifestyle and music and we have formed great friendships among the Ghanaian people. We look forward to returning to Ghana at a more opportuned time. However, we cannot afford to compromise the standard of the laudable vision of AFRIMA to create a truly African brand that connects Africans and build the equity of Africa. The situation faced in Ghana has the potential to erode the goodwill and giant strides we have achieved in Africa through the awards”.

    Mr. Stein, a former Manager and friend of Afrobeat Legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, added that AFRIMA is geared to increase the tourism and entertainment equity of a host country as the host receives an influx of international and Africa dignitaries, AFRIMA nominees, music stars and executives who attend the four-day programme of activities. AFRIMA further offers benefits that would help in raising the continental and international profile of the host country, including an opportunity to tap into the millions of participants and followers of the growing African music.

    The African Union had enjoyed a successful and effective hosting partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria that won the right to host the four editions of AFRIMA -from 2014-2017.

    “The support of the Ministry of Information & Culture, Nigeria with sponsorship from the Government of Lagos State, Nigeria as AFRIMA Official Host City in 2016 and 2017 also fostered the smooth execution of the various AFRIMA events and facilitated the seamless engagement of corporate sponsorship/partnership at various facets of event planning and execution”, Mr. Stein explained.

    “Our concerns are genuine and worrying. We must see a commitment from the Host Country government to secure suitable venues in advance for holding the AFRIMA Awards ceremony and events, to provide suitable hotel accommodation in advance for nominees, artistes and guests of the Awards and to provide and process visas -on-arrival in advance and in good time for guests, nominees, artistes, contractors and other relevant stakeholders attending the Awards. If these are not in place, then we have a recipe for disaster on our hands”, he stated.

    The International Committee of AFRIMA has said it is working to determine a new host country for the 6th edition of the annual All Africa Music Awards AFRIMA and this will be announced in August 2019. After five outstanding editions of AFRIMA from 2014 to 2018, the 6th edition will continue in the tradition of celebrating the scintillating musical culture of Africa by featuring exhilarating Pan-Africa events through the lifespan of the calendar year in 2019.

    The events on the AFRIMA 2019 calendar include the ‘Call for Entry/Entry Submission’ opening on May 15 to end on August 2, a process when African music professionals from across the continent submit their musical works, songs and recordings via the official AFRIMA website www.afrima.org for a possible shot at nomination in one or more of the 36 categories of AFRIMA.

    The 6th AFRIMA Main Awards Ceremony, a four-day fiesta of music, glamour, Afrocentricism and entertainment, holds in November in the official awards Host City. The four-day event commences with the Welcome Soiree followed by the AFRIMA Music Village, the Host City Tour, the Africa Music Business Summit, the exclusive Nominees Party and concludes with the live Awards Ceremony. Fans of African music globally can follow along and take part in the AFRIMA 2019 events on social media, livestream on the AFRIMA website, the AFRIMA App and by tuning to over 84 television stations which are AFRIMA partners.

  • 6th AFRIMA welcomes submission of songs and videos

    THE 6th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), has officially opened its online portal for submission of songs and videos between the period of May 15 and August 2, 2019, during which music artistes and music professionals living in Africa and in the Diaspora will submit entries on www.afrima.org to be considered for honours at the 2019 the music awards.

    Following the unveiling of the calendar of events for the 6th annual AFRIMA on Monday, May 13,  at the African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the entry submission process enables African music artistes, managers, producers, record label owners, recording companies, video directors, disc jockeys and  choreographers/dancers a chance to vie for the possibility of emerging winners in any of the 36 AFRIMA awards categories comprising of 10 Regional and 26 continental categories.

    Submitted artistic entries must be produced or released under the year in review, from August 1, 2018 to August 2, 2019.

    To qualify, songs or videos must be uploaded via an audio or video format, using download links to YouTube or SoundCloud platforms, and must be submitted in categories relevant to the genre or style of music on the online submission portal.

    Following the end of the entry submission period on August 2, the 13-man international jury of AFRIMA will screen all received entries who will become contenders on the AFRIMA 2019 nominees list.

    The ‘World Media Announcement of the 6th AFRIMA Nominees’ List’ holds on August 13 to publicly unveil African artistes and/or works that have been nominated in the various categories competing to win the AFRIMA 23.9 carat gold-plated trophy.

    Subsequently, the public voting process on the AFRIMA platform will be open to African music fans and followers around the globe and to the AFRIMA Academy of Voters. Winners of the votes will be announced at the main awards ceremony scheduled for November 2019 on a date-to-be-announced. The public voting is monitored and audited by an external reputable international auditing firm.

  • AFRIMA adds four categories

    THE All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, has included four new categories, as a way of expanding the reward scope.

    In its 5th edition, AFRIMA had opened for online submission on Friday, May 25 to commemorate the 2018 Africa Day.

    The newly introduced award categories are, African DJ of the Year; Best African Dance/Choreography; African Lyricist/Rapper of the Year and Best African Act in Diaspora (Female & Male).

    According to AFRIMA secretariat, the need to expand the reward table, followed consultations with African music stakeholders made up of the AFRIMA Academy of Voters and members of the International Committee of AFRIMA in response to the yearnings and requests of stakeholders, DJ’s, dancers and artistes in diaspora.

    AFRIMA awards categories are divided into two: Continental and Regional categories. The Continental Category rewards African artistes in various music genres and forms ranging from pop, hip hop, inspirational, jazz, electro, DJ and more, while the Regional Category celebrates the outstanding achievements of African artistes within their specific region of origin.

    African DJ of the Year; Best African Dance/Choreography; African Lyricist/Rapper of the Year and Best African Act in Diaspora all fall under the Continental Category. In addition, the Best African Act in Diaspora is dedicated to artistes with African roots/origin who practice their craft in the international music industry and have prominence and renowned on the international music stage. The artiste’s music style could either be in the traditional or contemporary forms of expression.

    The awards ceremony is slated for November 2018 and it will be broadcast live to 84 countries around the globe.

     

  • Dstv brings AFRIMA live to screens

    Dstv brings AFRIMA live to screens

    THE management of Multichoice Nigeria has announced that it will broadcast the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) live on DStv and GOtv on 10-12 November.

    The awards will be screened live on DStv Premium, Compact, Compact +, Family and Access customers; and also on GOtv Max and GOtv Plus Channel 29, its management says.

    Rated as one of the biggest music awards in Africa with participation of over 700 artistes across the continent, the 4th edition of AFRIMA will be held in Nigeria, which has been the host city since 2014 and will be co-hosted by multi-award winning artist and composer, Akon and one of Cameroon’s biggest entertainment personalities and host Sophy.

    “This is the first time that we have screened these spectacular awards live on our platforms. We hope to be able to keep showcasing these awards in the future, so that we are part of celebrating the amazing musical talent that we have in our continent,” said Martin Mabutho, the General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria.

    Nominees in over 33 regional and continental categories are battling it out for the coveted AFRIMA 23.9 karat gold-plated trophy. These include the AFRIMA Legend Award and Music/Entertainment Journalist of the Year award. Well-known sensational African music names on the AFRIMA nominees list include: Becca ft Patoranking (Ghana), Yemi Alade and Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)in the Best Female in West Africa Category; Eddy Kenzo (Uganda), Davido (Nigeria), Fally Ipupa (DRC) in the Artiste of the Year Category; Darassa (Tanzania), Ebony (Ghana), The Dogg (Namibia) and Nyashiki (Kenya) in the African Fans Favourite Category. Artists vying for Album of the Year include Angola’s Anselmo Ralph, Dark suburb (Ghana), Wizkid (Nigeria), Hugh Masekela (South Africa) and more.

  • AFRIMA receives 4,816 entries for 2017

    AFRIMA receives 4,816 entries for 2017

    • Eastern Africa has highest entries

    Organisaers of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) have announced a large number of entries for the 2017 edition of the award.

    At the close of the two-month entry submission process on Monday, July 17 which raked in close to 5,000 from African music artistes and music professionals, organisers noted that this edition is on its way to becoming an epoch-making awards event.

    “The African Union and the International Committee of AFRIMA had opened the 2017 AFRIMA Call for Entries on May 8 giving the opportunity to African music artistes, record producers, songwriters, video directors and music journalists to enter their qualified works on the AFRIMA website www.afrima.org and the awards social media platforms.

    “The overwhelming response to this call putting the total number of entries received for 2017 at 4,816 is an astronomical increase from the 2,714 number of entries received in 2016 which amounts to a whopping 77.25% increase compared to last year. The analysis reveals the regions with the highest entries as Eastern Africa, with 47% of the total entries and Western Africa, with 30%. This immense progress is a positive marker and has elicited satisfaction from the African Union, the International Committee of AFRIMA, the Regional and Country Directors of AFRIMA, the statement reads.

    Expressing excitement at the high number of entries in 2017, the AFRIMA International Advisor and member of the International Committee, Mr. Rikki Stein stated: “This is tremendous news, indicative of an increasingly healthy music industry across Africa, particularly from a creative perspective.

    Rikki Stein, former friend and Manager to African music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

    “AFRIMA is plugged in to the aspirations of the African continent, providing a platform for excellence in the field of music and a source of inspiration and encouragement for its associated fields of endeavour; songwriters, producers, sound engineers, distributors, publicists, marketers, photographers, videographers, stylists, journalists, bloggers, DJs and on and on.”

    The former friend and Manager to African music legend, Fela  Anikulapo Kuti also added that,

    “As one by one, African artists are making their mark in the wider world, acting as ambassadors of their countries and their culture, the eyes and ears of that wider world are opening and turning towards Africa as the source of much more than entertainment. In its finest form, as will be evident amongst AFRIMA nominees and eventual winners, they provide an antidote to negativity and cynicism, offering a healing form for ailments of heart and spirit; what Fela used to call ‘The Underground Spiritual Game’.

    To follow the close of entry submission is the screening and adjudication processes from July 18 to July 28 and August 2 to August 8 respectively. The 13-man AFRIMA Jury will review the 4,816 entries to determine the works of African talents that are adjudged on merit to be on the AFRIMA 2017 Nominees List.

    In partnership with the African Union, AFRIMA is centred on the promotion and marketing of African music and is by far the largest gathering of such magnitude of stakeholders in Africa. The biggest awards event on the continent packs exciting activities into its annual events calendar including the AFRIMA Music Village, the Africa Music Business Roundtable and the AFRIMA Host City Tour.

    The event is scheduled to hold from November 9 to12 with a live broadcast to 84 countries across the world.

  • Entries besiege AFRIMA 2017

    ORGANISERS of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, have announced that nearly 5,000 entries from African music artistes and music professionals were submitted for this year’s edition of the Awards.

    The overwhelming response, according to to this call putting the total number of entries received for 2017 at 4,816 is an astronomical increase from the 2,714 number of entries received in 2016 which amounts to 77.25% increase compared to last year.

    Analysis reveals the regions with the highest entries as Eastern Africa, with 47% of the total entries and Western Africa, with 30%.

    Expressing his excitement at the high number of entries in 2017, the AFRIMA International Advisor and member of the International Committee, Mr. Rikki Stein stated that it is indicative of an increasingly healthy music industry across Africa, particularly from a creative perspective.

    “AFRIMA is plugged in to the aspirations of the African continent, providing a platform for excellence in the field of music and a source of inspiration and encouragement for its associated fields of endeavour; songwriters, producers, sound engineers, distributors, publicists, marketers, photographers, videographers, stylists, journalists, bloggers, DJs and on and on,” he said.

    The former friend and Manager to African music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti also added that, “As one by one, African artists are making their mark in the wider world, acting as ambassadors of their countries and their culture, the eyes and ears of that wider world are opening and turning towards Africa as the source of much more than entertainment.

    To follow the close of entry submission is the screening and adjudication processes from July 18 to July 28 and August 2 to August 8 respectively. The 13-man AFRIMA Jury will review the 4,816 entries to determine the works of African talents that are adjudged on merit to be on the AFRIMA 2017 Nominees List.

  • AFRIMA receives 4,816 entries for 2017 awards – Official

    AFRIMA receives 4,816 entries for 2017 awards – Official

    The All Africa Music Awards, (AFRIMA) received 4,816 entries from African music artists and professionals for the 2017 edition of the awards at the close of the two-month entry submission process on Monday.

    Mr Rikki Stein, AFRIMA International Advisor and a member of the International Committee, said this in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.

    He also the African Union and the International Committee of AFRIMA opened the 2017 AFRIMA call for entries on May 8.

    Stein further said screening and adjudication processes of the entries would hold from July 18 to July 28 and Aug. 2 to Aug. 8.

    He said the 13-man AFRIMA Jury would review the entries to determine the works of African talents that were adjudged on merit to be on the AFRIMA 2017 Nominees list.

    According to him, AFRIMA 2017 is scheduled to hold from Nov. 9 to Nov. 12 with a live broadcast to 84 countries across the world.

    Stein said it was a period of opportunity for African music artists, record producers, songwriters, video directors and music journalists to enter their qualified works on the AFRIMA website.

    Stein gave the website as www.afrima.org and the awards social media platforms.

    He said the response was overwhelming, adding that 4,916 entries were received for2017 higher than 2,714 entries received in 2016.

    According to him, this is a 77.25 percentage increase over last year’s entries.

    “Analysis reveals Eastern Africa regions recorded the highest entries with 47 per cent of the total entries, followed by Western Africa with 30 per cent of the entries.

    “This progress is a positive marker and it has elicited satisfaction from the African Union, the International Committee of AFRIMA as well as the Regional and Country Directors of AFRIMA.

    “This is tremendous news, indicative of an increasingly healthy music industry across Africa, particularly from a creative perspective.

    “AFRIMA is plugged into the aspirations of the African continent, providing a platform for excellence in music, a source of inspiration and encouragement for its associated fields of endeavour,’’ the advisor said.

    According to him, African artists are making marks globally, acting as good ambassadors of their countries and their culture and turning the world toward Africa as the source of entertainment.