Personalities at AFRIMA launch
The African Union Commission (AUC) has formally unveiled the 2017 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) calendar at a world media unveiling event held on Tuesday at The Maslow Hotel, Sandton, South Africa.
The ceremony was attended by AU officials, members of the International Committee of AFRIMA, past AFRIMA winners and nominees from Southern African, media executives in Southern Africa and other stakeholders in the creative/entertainment industry in Africa.
During the unveiling, President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, disclosed that the first activity on the continental awards event calendar involves the submission of entries which opens globally on Monday, May 8 and submission which closes on Monday, July 17, 2017.
Mr Dada advised artistes, managers, producers, record label owners, video directors, publicists and entertainment/music journalists to submit their works or that of their artistes within the stipulated timeline in order to stand a chance at the awards.
“Irrespective of how popular an artiste or their works are in Africa, failure to submit for the awards means their chances of being nominated for AFRIMA 2017 is practically non-existent,” Dada pointed out.
While delivering the African Union opening address at the event, Head of Culture Division, African Union Commission, Angela Martins, thanked the government of the Republic of South Africa and the people for receiving the AUC and AFRIMA for the calendar unveiling.
She added, “We would like to hail the All Africa Music Awards initiative for the laudable impact it has for its three editions (2014, 2015 and 2016). AFRIMA has been able to mobilise millions of people and renowned artistes from the five (5) regions of Africa.’’
Speaking further about the partnership with the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA and the African Union Commission, Ms Martins said, “We wish to thank AFRIMA for allowing us to popularise this continent policy tool on its platforms and we call upon all of you here present to assist in popularizing these continental tools.”
AFRIMA is a music property developed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical culture of Africa. It is centred on the promotion and marketing of African music and is by far the largest gathering of such magnitude of stakeholders in Africa and hosting is earnestly sought by different African countries due to the great leveraging opportunities that the platform provides.