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Tag: AFRIMA

  • AFRIMA 2018: African Union, Ghana partner over calendar unveiling

    The 2018 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) annual calendar of programmes will be unveiled on Monday, May 21, 2018 by the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with Government of the Republic of Ghana, and the International Committee of AFRIMA during a world media event and music conference scheduled for Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

     

    Part of the agenda for the Calendar Unveiling of the fifth annual edition of AFRIMA is a Courtesy Visit to His Excellency, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who is set to receive African delegates and music stars attending the event from around Africa including the Head of Culture, African Union, Mrs. Angela Martins; President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada; Director, Brand Communications, AFRIMA; Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi; AFRIMA Regional Director; Western Africa, Mr. Don Obilor, the Ghanaian-UK AFRIMA Juror, (representing UK-Diaspora) and BBC-1 show host, Ms. Rita Ray and the AFRIMA Country Director, Ghana, Mr. Francis Doku.

     

    Also participating at the event are past AFRIMA nominees and winners, music professionals and executives, creative/culture industry policy makers, members of the media industry and other award-winning recording artistes living in Ghana and in other African countries.

     

    Commenting on the event in line with government’s objective to develop sustainable tourism pivoted on Ghanaian arts and culture, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Catherine Afeku, said: “Arts and culture, as a sector, remains one of Africa’s greatest strengths. As well as being a source of values, identity and a sense of belonging, the creative industries have become a driver of economic growth and job creation. In agreeing to host the AFRIMA 2018 Calendar Unveiling, the Government of Ghana is motivated by the need to harness the potential of the creative sector of Ghana to promote national and regional tourism. We congratulate the African Union for lending its weight behind this laudable effort”.

     

    Hon. Afeku added, “The Government of Ghana recognizes the potential of the Creative Industries to shape and reinforce the country’s economic growth. Studies show that by the end of the first decade of this millennium, cultural activities contributed to 1.53% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of our country. Zeroing in on music industry, it is reported with some justifiable pride that that sector alone adds approximately GH¢100 million to GDP”.

     

    Speaking on the collaborative work by the African Union and the International Committee of AFRIMA to create inventive solutions to achieving the AU Charter for African Cultural Renaissance and the Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries, the Acting Director for Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Madam Mariama Cisse revealed that partnerships with member AU states such as Ghana further galvanise the achievement of the AU policy on Africa transformation through social integration.

     

    In her statement, the Acting Director for Social Affairs, African Union, said: “The hosting by the Republic of Ghana of this unveiling event is very important given that previous events were hosted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and it is crucial that the initiative rotates in the AU Member States to ensure broader popularization and enhance its Pan-African nature. We thus express our gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Ghana for hosting the event and call upon all musical artists to participate in the initiative by submitting their works once the call for submissions is open”.

     

    AFRIMA, Africa’s biggest music awards property, will roll out the 2018 calendar under the theme “Africa is Music”. The calendar features back-to-back events traversing several countries in the five regions of Africa. Some of these planned events include music/culture conferences; country visits to converse with critical music/culture industry stakeholders and high-octane music concerts tagged “Turn Up Africa” which objective is to connect fans and followers of African music with their favourite Africa music stars of the traditional and contemporary genres.

     

    In partnership with the African Union, the All Africa Music Awards is a music property that recognises and rewards the work and talent of a myriad of African artists from the old to the new generation of musicians. Through its conference, AFRIMA also stimulates conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the world about the potential of the creative arts for real humanising enterprise on the continent, contributing significantly to social cohesion, national, regional and continental integration as well as sustainable development in Africa. The award show is usually broadcast to over eighty countries around the world.

     

    Top African musicians to perform at AFRIMA 2017

     

  • Masekela’s death is a huge loss for the African continent- Mike Dada, Executive Producer AFRIMA

    It is no longer news that South African jazz legend, Hugh Masekela’s long battle with prostate cancer ended on Tuesday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

     

    As expected, social media has been rife with tributes to the legendary African musician.

     

    The President and Executive Producer of All Africa Music Awards(AFRIMA) has said that the death of Masekela is a huge loss for the African continent.

     

     

    ” It is a huge loss for the continent and African music. Masekela’s music had the depth, the lyricism and the instrumentation that place the legend in the class of world music classics with a definitive signature of its African sound. The music icon will be greatly missed but his music and struggle for free and prosperous Africa will always be in our hearts and minds.”

     

    Masekela gained global recognition with his distinctive Afro-Jazz sound and hit song-Soweto Blues. He creates music from his Africa’s experiences andis known for excellent use of trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone and cornet instruments.

     

    Born in April 4, 1939 and ventured into music as a child when the anti-apartheid chaplain, Archbishop Trevor Huddleston gave him a trumpet as a gift. He found escape from the racial chaos in South Africa in his days with music. He later joined the Johannesburg Native Municipal Bras Band, Uncle Suada.In later years, Masekela studied the art of music in London’s Guildhall School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, New York.

     

    The legend had released 49 Albums from the 1966 to 2016 and featured legends like Paul Simon, Lady Smith Mambazo, Mariam Makeba and others. He was nominated for the Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Pop Performance – Instrumental in 1968 for his single ‘Grazing in the Grass’, an anti-apartheid piece which sold 4 million copies among other nominations.

     

    AFRIMA will pay tribute to Hugh Masekela in a glorifying spectacle at its fifth edition scheduled to hold in November 2018.

     

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  • Top African musicians to perform at AFRIMA 2017

    Top African musicians to perform at AFRIMA 2017

    Top African artistes are billed to perform at the All African Music Awards. Artistes like Salif Keita, Fally Ipupa, Femi Kuti and Wizkid, will be the centre of attraction when the 2017 edition of the All Africa Music Awards will hold in Lagos.

    Others include Young Paris (Democratic Republic of Congo), Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania), Bussine (Gabon), Bebe Cool (Uganda), 2Baba (Nigeria), Venessa Mdee (Tanzania), Sheyi Shay (Nigeria), Nasty C (South Africa), Sarkodie (Ghana), Fnaire (Morroco), Eddy Kenzo (Uganda), Ibitssam Tiskat (Morocco) and Emtee (South Africa).

    The main events are The Africa Music Business Roundtable on November 10 at the Ballroom, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos; the AFRIMA Music Village the same day at the Waterfront, Bar Beach, and the main awards ceremony at the Eko Hotels.

    A statement from the organisers described the AFRIMA Music Village, where over 40 artistes will perform, as Africa ’s biggest open concert.

    It added, “Music executives and music business brands will engage, brainstorm and network at the Africa Music Roundtable, with the theme, ‘Digital Takeover: Shaping the Future of African Music. It will bring together top international music brands, label executives and music artistes to chart a continental strategy for the African music in the digital age. Speakers at the AFRIMA event are the General Manager, Sony Music, West Africa, Micheal Ugwu; and Board Chairman of the Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition, South Africa; Dr. Sipho Sithole.”

    The event will hold between 10th-12th November 2017.

    READ AGAIN- Kwam 1, 2face, others to perform at AFRIMA music village

  • Kwam 1, 2face, others to perform at AFRIMA music village

     

    The African Union and the international committee of the All Africa Music Awards have declared the lineup of expected performers at the music village, a pre-award event.

     

    The Africa music village, scheduled for Friday, November 10, is an open music festival set to showcase live performances of over 40 African music superstars.

     

    It will feature performances from 2face, Seyi Shay, Tanzanian Bongo-flava king Diamond Platnumz, House music star Niniola, Ugandan pop-star Eddy Kenzo, and Nigeria’s Fuji icons Kwam1 and Pasuma.

     

    Other stars confirmed for the event are Wande Coal from Nigeria, VVIP from Ghana, Salif Keita from Mali, Shyn from Madagascar, Tekno from Nigeria, Young Paris from DRC, Daphne from Cameroon.

     

    Olamide, Small Doctor, Adekunle Gold, Shatta Wale (Ghana), Neil Oliver (Benin), Qritical (Kenya), Fally Ipupa (DRC), TayGrin (Malawi), The Dogg (Namibia), and Nsoki, Angola are others on the lineup.

     

    A statement by the organisers of the award has also unveiled some of the programme of activities of the AFRIMA 2017.

     

    “Some of the events to happen at the biggest awards event on the continent include the Africa Music Business Roundtable (AMBR) on November 10 which is a platform for African music executives, investors and artistes to chart a course for development towards the nurturing and packaging of music in a way that creates jobs and reflects positively on the GDP of the continent,” the statement read.

     

    “International and African music brands and organisations will also showcase products and services at the 2017 AMBR exhibition with attendance subject to registration on the AFRIMA website, www.afrima.org . Some of the speakers billed for the roundtable are general manager, Sony Music, West Africa; Micheal Ugwu; board chairman of the Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition, South Africa; Sipho Sithole, and head of public relations and special projects, Universal Music; Hadja Kobele.

     

    “The main awards ceremony on Sunday, November 12 is a glittery, star-studded and world-class event that celebrates African music heritage and rewards African music artistes with the 23.9 karat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy. The culturally-themed ceremony connects music stars, entertainment investors, government personalities on the red carpet before the main awards ceremony.

     

    “There will be live performances and television broadcast to 84 countries on 109 television stations around the world. Seats are reserved for members of the public who purchase tickets on the AFRIMA website and other designated outlets.”

     

    Lagos state is hosting AFRIMA for the second consecutive year.

  • AFRIMA 2017: Tiwa Savage, Davido, others battle for glory

    Following a grueling three-week process of screening and resolution, 13-man jury of the prestigious All Africa Music Awards,AFRIMA, representing the five regions of Africa, the Diaspora and the African Union Commission, Tuesday, announced nominees for regional categories ahead of its November 9-12, awards ceremony.

    Africa’s prominent pop stars, Davido and Wizkid are to clash for the Best Male category in West Africa. The duo also has the likes of Runtown, Drake, Tekno, Ycee, Mr. Eazi, Guinean MHD and DJ Arafat from Ivory Cost to beat in order to clinch the 23.9karat Gold plate AFRIMA trophy.

     

    South African rappers, AKA and Nasty C are up for the same category in the Southern Africa region, just as Kenyan hip hop star, Octopizzo will battle with Tanzanian Diamond Platnumz and Ethiopian Sinishaw Legesse among others for the Best Male Artiste in the East African region.

     

    While the likes of Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade and Babes Wodumo, Aramide,Viviane Chidid, Seyi Shay, Becca and Zeynab have also been nominated for Best Female Act in their respective regions.

     

    Mr. Chris Cyren, the juror from Southern Africa said 4,816 entries from African music professionals and music artistes were received at the close of a two-month entry submission window on July 17, this year. He described the nominations process as rigorous and thorough, as he emphasized on the Jury’s resolve to be fair and transparent in line with the AFRIMA values of FACEIT (fairness, authenticity, creativity, excellence, integrity, transparency).

    Charles Tabu, AFRIMA’s juror from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), harped on the need for music lovers in Africa to explore different genre of music from all regions on the continent.