All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA records high number of entries
Following an overwhelming flood of entries in the past two months, the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has finally closed submission of entry for its maiden edition. Activities recorded in this part of organising AFRIMA recorded an impressive participation as a total of two thousand and twenty five entries (2,025) were received at the close of the submission.
The call for entry was initially opened on May 15 and billed to close on July 5. However, the International Committee of AFRIMA extended the closing date to July 19 to accommodate the deluge of more entries from interested participants across the continent and also to give an equal chance to many who felt disenfranchised due to lack of Internet access. The entry finally closed at 24.00 hrs CAT on July 21,2014.
For the first time, AFRIMA insisted on submission of entries online in order to achieve transparency and get the artistes to adapt to modern and future forms of communication. A total of 2,025 entries were received on the AFRIMA website and Facebook page from artistes, record companies, music enthusiasts and music/entertainment journalists across the continent and in the diaspora whose works were produced in the year under review, May 31, 2013- July 20, 2014.
Of the entries received, thirty eight (38) were from music and entertainment journalists, others were from artistes, songwriters, video directors, music producers and record companies.
Being a continental award, music enthusiasts from across the continent submitted their works, but more exciting are the entries from non-African countries by Africans. This shows the global recognition of AFRIMA, which is in partnership with the African Union Commission and the host country’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment as well as the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation in Nigeria.
The Director, Brand Communication and Sponsorships, Matlou Tsotetsi expressed excitement over the high record of entries: “The International Committee is excited about the entries received. It is a reflection of the understanding and acceptability of the vision and ideals of AFRIMA’s intent to pursue and communicate to the rest of the world.”
The submitted works will be further screened by a 13-person jury panel that are part of the AFRIMA Academy of Voters comeprising of 527 members grouped into two layers of adjudicators spread across the five regions of Africa. The jury members who have been carefully selected to represent the five (5) regions of Africa and Diaspora are from the following countries- Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, UK and USA as well as a representative from the African Union are expected to arrive in Lagos on July 31, 2014 for the weeklong adjudication process in the presence of an international auditing firm.
Prominent and seasoned music professionals like Oscar Kidjo, Rita Ray,Kiki Toure, Kawesa Richard, Delani Makhalima, Christian Syren, Rab Bakari are part of the jury. A nomination list will be released to the public on a later date to vote for a winner in each of the 31 categories of the award.
Mr. Rab Bakari, a former manager with Universal Music Group, United States of America and a member of the jury representing the Diaspora could not hide his delight to be part of the epoch-making event. He enthused: “I’m glad to be part of this history making and Af renaissance in the African music industry where African talents will be duly recognised, rewarded and exposed to the international scene for global competitiveness.”
He continued: “I am committed to bring my over three decades of professional experience in the global music industry to bear on this laudable initiative.”
The award ceremony, which promises to be a premium and star-studded event, will take place on November 9. It will be broadcast in 84 countries on 109 television stations across the world. This will be preceded by the AFRIMA Village, a four-day event of music festivities featuring national pavilions, cultural/entertainment exhibitions and music concerts between November 4 and 7. There will also be an Africa Music Summit (November 6-7) themed “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa”. The two-day conference will be a platform for the music industry stakeholders to engage and deliberate on how the industry can be nurtured and be a major contributor to national and continental economies.
AFRIMA is a combined effort by music professionals across the continent aimed at celebrating the rich musical heritage of the African continent and encouraging the growth of talented artistes in the Diaspora. Nigeria won the right to host it for three (3) years.
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