The 6th edition of All Africa Music Awards, (AFRIMA), in partnership with the African Union Commission, has received 8,157 songs and videos on its online portal as entry submission closed on Friday, August 2, 2019.
This year’s submission recorded the highest number of entries from African artistes, music producers, songwriters, Disc Jockeys (DJS), and video directors among others, since the inception of the biggest music event in Africa.
The 2019 submissions, which opened worldwide on May 15, 2019, exceeded the 2018 submissions by 148 entries. Of the 8,157 entries submitted this year, West Africa leads the pack with 38 percent of the total entries followed by Southern Africa with 24 percent. East Africa, Central Africa and North Africa have 20, 14 and 4 percent respectively.
Meanwhile, following the end of the 6th AFRIMA entry submission, a 13-man International Jury of AFRIMA arrived Lagos on August 7, 2019 for the week-long adjudication process from August 7 to13. The AFRIMA Jury’s responsibility involves screening, categorising, assessing, grading and selecting into the
36 different regional and continental awarding categories, the nominees who will vie for the 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy.
AFRIMA hospitality partner, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, will be providing venue for the jury members who represent the five regions of Africa, the Diaspora (Europe and North America) and the African Union Commission.
Guided by transparency and fairness, each of the jury members will bring their span of experience and professionalism to play and utilize their boundless knowledge of African music, culture, and entertainment, to collectively arrive at artistes and/ or recordings on the 6th AFRIMA Nominees’ List that reflect the creative energy and output of African music talents between the music review period of August 1, 2018 to August 2, 2019. After this process is concluded, the 6th AFRIMA Nominees’ List would be unveiled during a World Media Conference scheduled for August 14 at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The AFRIMA jury members from East Africa are; Tanzania’s Joett, vocal coach and artiste development manager and Tabu Osusa from Kenya.
Representing Central Africa are; Charles Tabu, a music executive with wide experience in artiste management and promotion from Democratic Republic of Congo and Bob Ekukole, Cameroonian media and music professional.
Northern Africa is represented by Omar Essaidi, a Moroccan music programmer and artistic director.
Southern Africa is represented by Delani Makhalima, Zimbabwean radio DJ and lawyer, and Chris Syren, South Africa’s music professional, concert promoter, and co-founder/director of Making Music Productions (MMP).
Western Africa is representative by Olisa Adibua, prolific broadcaster, music executive and talent manager from Nigeria and David Tayorault, a Côte d’ivoire music legend.
Representing the Diaspora-europe is Rita Ray, a Uk-based BBC Radio 3 presenter, international music curator and popular Club Deejay, while Hadja Kobélé Keita, music executive with Universal Music Africa/island Africa, represents Diaspora-north America.
The African Union Commission is represented by Angela Martins, head, Culture Division of the AUC. Martins, a Mozambican, is a professional African Culture Analyst and an African music enthusiast.
Speaking on the 2019 entry submission and adjudication process, Martins said: “AFRIMA, the Pan-african initiative and music platform is gaining greater momentum, continental visibility and recognition. This can be verified by the increased number of entries received for its 6th Edition, to be held in November 2019.
“The African Union Commission congratulates the international Committee of AFRIMA for this achievement and the promotion of the continent’s creative economy. The Commission would like to express its strong support to AFRIMA as it plays a key role in recognising and awarding myriad of music talents on the continent.
“In the same vein the AU Commission welcomes members of the AFRIMA jury who will start the important adjudication process on August 7th in Lagos, Nigeria. The role of the AFRIMA Jury is crucial to ensure fairness and transparency of the continental awards”.
Also reacting to the entries received for the 6th AFRIMA, Charles Tabu, expressed excitement that more artistes within and outside Africa we getting involved in AFRIMA submissions.
