AFRIMA Diamonds Shine at Prize Presentation Ceremony in Lagos

Vanessa Obioha

The seven artistes selected for the AFRIMA Diamonds talent development programme took centre stage on Wednesday at the AFRIMA Diamond Party and Prize Presentation held at Voyage Lagos, delivering performances that showcased the next generation of African music talent.

The artistes — Ellacentric, Black Astro, Yamayeh Vibez, Mayowa Afolabi, DELLFIRE, El Nayaan and Blinkz Baba — entertained guests comprising entertainment executives, industry stakeholders and creatives during the event organised by the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

Speaking at the ceremony, AFRIMA President and Executive Producer, Mike Dada, urged the young artistes to seize the opportunities provided by the platform and position themselves among Africa’s leading music stars within the next few years.

“You are not here by accident. You were chosen because we saw something special in you. We saw talent, passion, discipline and the potential to become stars not just in your countries, but across Africa and the world,” he said.

He reiterated AFRIMA’s commitment to talent development, noting that the initiative was designed to nurture emerging artistes and create pathways for them to compete globally.

“The world is moving towards a content creation economy. Content is the new currency. Young people are creating value every day through music, digital media, fashion and entertainment. Our culture is our competitive advantage.

“The question is how we can leverage it for economic benefit, job creation and sustainable development. That is the direction AFRIMA is focused on, and we will continue to invest in initiatives that empower young Africans through creativity,” he said.

As part of their rewards, the artistes secured participation slots in the Showbiz 101 Workshop and Music Creation Camp organised by bridgeAFRIC, where they will receive mentorship and collaborate with established producers and artistes from across the continent. They also received professional music equipment donated by New Media Technologies Nigeria, the national distributor of SE Electronics.

An emotional Black Astro described the initiative as a turning point in his career. “This opportunity has changed everything for me. AFRIMA has given us visibility, confidence and access to people who can help shape our future. We are ready to show the world what we can do,” he said.

Mayowa Afolabi shared similar sentiments, stating that the platform offered emerging artistes valuable exposure within the industry.

The event attracted notable personalities from the entertainment industry, including hypeman Do2dtun, Head of the AFRIMA International Jury Olisa Adibua, and Voyage Lagos CEO Nader Issa.

The AFRIMA Diamonds programme is designed to identify, support and promote promising African music talents through mentorship, exposure and industry engagement.