AFRIMA to promote Africa strength in music – Organisers

Organisers of the All Africa Music Award (AFRIMA) said their upcoming award event would aim at promoting the strength of Africa to tell a positive story of the continent.

The organisers disclosed this during the 8th edition of AFRIMA’s Adjudication Process and Patrons’ Dinner in Lagos.

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Mr Mike Dada, the president and executive producer, AFRIMA, said the organisers were committed and dedicated to the objectives of the platform meant to motivate Africa.

“We are not moving away from the objectives, which are simple—we use music and culture as a platform to unite Africa, motivate Africa and create a peaceful Africa.

“We will use culture and music to ensure that jobs are created, more people are employed and more people are taken away from the streets. Those are our objectives.

“In addition to that, we use the platform of AFRIMA to promote the strength of Africa and tell a positive story of the continent,” he said.

Dada added that it was a different year and the audience should expect peculiarities, newness and other bumper surprises that Africa was capable of.

He advised that artistes should not be limited by the challenges of the environment and that they should create the doors of opportunities themselves.

Amb Minata S. Cessouma, AU commissioner for health, humanitarian affairs and social development, said AFRIMA was a great contribution to the development of the creative economy.

Cessouma was represented by Ms Angela Martins, the head of Culture Division, Department of Health.

Cessouma said the AU Commission as a long-term AFRIMA partner, commended the leadership of AFRIMA, especially its executive producer, Dada and his team for their commitment, enthusiasm and efforts.

She said AFRIMA would promote the growth and development of the creative industry of music on the continent despite various challenges, including the Ebola crisis in 2014/2015 and the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020.

AFRIMA patron, Dr Bisi Onasanya, said he felt very proud to be associated with the organisation, and that there was the need to acknowledge that Africa was taking the whole world by surprise in terms of music.

Onasanya said African music was being played outside the continent and it was an achievement as it was making waves like never before.

The official jury for the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) arrived in Lagos on August 11 for an eight-day adjudication, which would herald the list of nominees for this year’s edition.

The AFRIMA jury is composed of a 13-member panel, with two jurors representing each of the five regions and two others representing North America and Europe. It also has a representative from the African Union Commission. (NAN)