AFRIMA 2018: AU Unveils Calendar in Accra

The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) experienced the warmth of the music and culture industry of Ghana last Monday when the calendar of events for the fifth edition of the biggest music awards in Africa was unveiled by the African Union following a meeting and courtesy visit to he President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Welcoming the visiting delegation led by the Head of Culture, African Union Commission, Mrs. Angela Martins, at the Presidential Office, Jubilee House in Accra, Akufo-Addo lauded the initiative of AFRIMA in conceiving a platform that showcases Africa positively to the world through the creativity of the music talents and the distinctive African cultural heritage.
According to him, “The people of Ghana are proud to host the 2018 AFRIMA world media calendar unveiling event and to receive the delegation of officials of AU and AFRIMA as well as the talented artistes and the media.

“I’m excited to hear AFRIMA is engaging the rest of the world on an intellectual platform with conferences and the music awards. We hope you have had a remarkable experience of Ghanaian hospitality. Our hope is that we will host the main awards ceremony.”

Other officials of the government of Ghana who received the AU-AFRIMA delegation included the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Catherine Abelema Afeku; Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo; Principal Personal Assistant to the President, Saratu Atta; Chief Director, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Joel Sonne; Director, Tourism Council of Ghana, Chief Nana Anim, and celebrated Ghanaian music artistes such as veteran Nana Kwame Ampadu who joined artistes from other African countries for the courtesy visit.

The president further prompted the Minister of Tourism, Catherine Afeku, to see to the completion of the formalities required to enable Ghana ratify the charter on African Culture Renaissance.
Earlier, while delivering the AU’s remarks to President Akufo-Addo, Mrs. Angela Martins expressed gratitude to the government and people of Ghana for the commitment and support displayed towards hosting the 2018 AFRIMA Calendar Unveiling.

“We cherish the partnership with the government of Ghana since it will enhance the pan-African nature of the AFRIMA initiative. The AU also uses the AFRIMA platform to voice key messages relating to the arts and culture and other social issues for example the campaign on Ebola in 2014,” she buttressed.

The international committee of AFRIMA was represented at the courtesy visit by President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada; Director, Brand Communications of AFRIMA, Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi; AFRIMA Regional Director, Central Africa, Mr. Ernest Ewane; AFRIMA Regional Director, West Africa, Mr. Don Obilor; AFRIMA Co-Producer/Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley James; AFRIMA Country Director for Ghana, Mr. Francis Doku; AFRIMA Jury Member (West Africa), Mr. Olisa Adibua, and AFRIMA Consultant, Regional Partnerships and Sponsorship, Dr. Bukola Bello-Jaiyesimi.

Meanwhile, the calendar unveiling project of the fifth AFRIMA took place later in the day at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra where the theme of the awards ‘Africa is Music’ was also revealed to the gathering of African and international media.

The ceremony was well-attended by record label owners, culture industry practitioners and music artistes such as Sarkodie (Ghana): 2Baba (Nigeria); Victoria Kimani (Kenya); Becca (Ghana); Ahmed Soultan (Morocco); Stanley Enow (Cameroon); Seyi Shay (Nigeria); Emtee (South Africa); Falz (Nigeria); Fancy Gaddam (Ghana); Stanley Adjetey (Ghana); Dark Suburb (Ghana); Zeynab (Republic of Benin) and Jah Phinga (Ghana), among others, and it featured a two-part interactive discussion session on the theme ‘Enhancing Music Business in Africa’.

This conference preceded the formal unveiling of the 2018 AFRIMA Calendar by Mrs. Martins and Director, Brand Communications, AFRIMA, Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi, The fifth AFRIMA Calendar details build up and main events activities leading up to the AFRIMA main awards ceremony is slated for November 25, 2018. Build up events include musical conferences and concerts around the different regions of Africa but more importantly, on May 25 (Africa Day), the 2018 AFRIMA opens the call for submission of works/song by African music professionals released within the eligibility period to compete for possible nomination in one or more of the 36 categories of the awards. The submission will end on August 1, 2018.

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