AFRIMA 2018; AU UNVEILS CALENDAR IN ACCRA …PRESIDENT NANA AKUFO-ADDO EMBRACES AFRIMA
…SUBMISSION OF SONGS TO COMMENCE ON MAY 25
The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, experienced the warmth of the music and culture industry of Ghana on Monday, May 21, 2018 when the calendarof events for the 5th edition of the biggest awards event on thecontinent was unveiled by the African Union following a meeting andcourtesy visit to His Excellency, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Welcoming the visiting delegation led by the Head of Culture, AfricanUnion Commission, Mrs. Angela Martins, at the Presidential Office,Jubilee House, Accra, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, lauded the initiative of AFRIMA in conceiving a platform that showcases Africapositively to the world through the creativity of the music talents andthe distinctive African cultural heritage.
“The people of Ghana are proud to host the 2018 AFRIMA World MediaCalendar Unveiling event and to receive the delegation of officials ofAU and AFRIMA as well the talented artistes and the media. I’m excitedto 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 willhost the main awards ceremony”, the President stated.
Other officials of the government of Ghana who received the AU-AFRIMA delegation included the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts andCulture, Hon. Catherine Abelema Afeku; Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo; Principal Personal Assistant to thePresident, Saratu Atta: Chief Director, Ministry of Tourism, Arts &Culture, Dr. Joel Sonne; Director, Tourism Council, Ghana, Chief NanaAnim and celebrated Ghanaian music artistes such as veteran Nana KwameAmpadu who joined artistes from other African countries for the courtesyvisit.
The President further prompted the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Catherine Afeku to see to the completion of the formalities required toenable 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 2018AFRIMA Calendar Unveiling.
“We cherish the partnership with the government of Ghana since it willenhance the pan-African nature of the AFRIMA initiative. The AU alsouses the AFRIMA platform to voice key messages related to the Arts andCulture and other social issues for example the campaign on Ebola in2014”, she buttressed.
The international Committee of AFRIMA was represented at the courtesyvisit by President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada;Director, Brand Communications, 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 Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley James; AFRIMA Country Director Ghana, Mr.Francis Doku, AFRIMA Jury Member (West Africa), Mr. OlisaAdibua and AFRIMA Consultant, Regional Partnerships and Sponsorship, Dr. BukolaBello-Jaiyesimi.
Meanwhile, the Calendar Unveiling of the 5th AFRIMA took place later inthe day at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra where the theme ofthe awards “Africa is Music” was also revealed to the largegathering of African and international media.
The ceremony, well-attended by record label owners, culture industrypractitioners 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 JahPhinga (Ghana),among others, featured a two-part interactive discussion session on thetheme “Enhancing Music Business in Africa”.
This conference preceded the formal unveiling of the 2018 AFRIMACalendar by Mrs. Angela Martins and Director, Brand Communications, AFRIMA, Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi, The 5th AFRIMA Calendar details build upand main events activities leading up to the 5th AFRIMA Main Awardsceremony slated for November 25, 2018. Build up events include musicalconferences and concerts around the different regions of Africa but moreimportantly, on May 25 (Africa Day), the 2018 AFRIMA opens the call forsubmission of works/song by African music professionals released withinthe eligibility period to compete for possible nomination in one or moreof the 36 categories of the awards. The submission will end on August 1,2018.
Panel discussants including Ghanaian artistes and artistes fromdifferent African countries and culture/creative industry executives,professionals and practitioners discussed the challenges faced by thecreative industry in Africa while also proffering inventive solutions toenhance the future of the music business on the continent. Some creativeindustry discussants included President, Creative Arts Council, Ghana, Mr. Mark Okraku Mantey and AFRIMA Regional Director, West Africa, Mr. Don Obilor.
According to Kenyan music diva, Victoria Kimani, “Before now, theworld of music, fashion and arts were not being taken seriously unlikepolitics, but the progress that have been registered in today’s musicindustry makes it easier to have a more confident ecosystem thatencourages the production of good music around the continent”.
Nigerian Afro pop singer, Seyi Shay, shared how the African musicindustry has empowered her as an artiste and how the system has givenmost artistes the control over their music.
Encouraging artistes to focus on building an authentic music brand, Ghanaian rap star, Sarkodie, talked about increasing the numbers ofprofessionals in the music business that can provide structure and technical music production where everybody can in turn make more moneythrough music business.
Nigerian artiste Falz encouraged artiste to not only have musicalcollaborations with fellow artistes but also with huge brands with whom artistes can share ideas and initiatives for support to help them growin music business.
Giving his submission on the discussion theme, Innocent ‘2Baba’Idibia said proper structure must be put in place to ensure thatinvestors in the music industry can get returns on their money.
The AFRIMA 2018 Calendar Unveiling event was hosted by the governmentand people of Ghana as part of the AU policy to achieve its objective ofpromoting social integration in the five regions of Africa. The 5thAFRIMA will also feature high-octane music concerts tagged “Turn UpAfrica” which objective is to connect fans and followers of African music with their favourite Africa music stars of the traditional andcontemporary genres.
In partnership with the African Union, the All Africa Music Awards is amusic property that recognizes and rewards the work and talent of myriadof African artists from the old to the new generation of musicians.Through its conference, AFRIMA also stimulates conversations amongAfricans and between Africa and the rest of the world about thepotential of the creative arts for real humanizing enterprise on thecontinent contributing significantly to social cohesion, national,regional and continental integration as well as sustainable developmentin Africa. It is broadcast live to over 84 countries.
Source: Afrima Media
