The African Union (AU) has awarded the hosting right for the Pan African Music Initiative, All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), to Nigeria for another three years (2017-2019).
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Segun Adeyemi, Special Adviser to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos on Sunday.
The minister said the hosting right was given to the country following its successful hosting of the 2014-2016 editions.
He said that the award of the hosting right was conveyed in a letter written to him by the Commissioner of Social Affairs at the AU Commission, Mrs. Amira Elfadil.
Mohammed said the AU’s commissioner commended the growth and inclusiveness of AFRIMA by reaching out to “many musicians, music producers and creative arts practitioners in general.”
He said that Elfadi noted that between 2014 and 2016, during which Nigeria hosted three editions of AFRIMA, it “has become a very crucial event and movement of African musicians.”
The minister said that the AU’s commissioner also noted that AFRIMA “allows them to establish synergies and work towards the development of Africa’s music and promotion of music in the continent and in the international arena.
“Based on this and other factors such as the willingness to create value and deepen the brand equity not only for Nigerians but also for Africans, the AU returned the hosting right of AFRIMA to Nigeria”.
He said that government’s desire to retain the right was informed by the enthusiasm and sense of duty with which Nigerians embraced AFRIMA coupled with the prevailing international confidence in the present administration.
He said: “The African Union’s gracious concession to our request is beneficial for the creative sector in Nigeria and across Africa.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is calling on state governments and corporate Nigeria to partner with it and the African Union in ensuring a successful hosting of AFRIMA 2017 which will bring immense socio-economic benefits to the selected host city,” he said.
Mohammed disclosed that the 2017 edition of AFRIMA is scheduled to hold from November 10 to 12.
Quoting the organiser of the event, the minister said that it would present to the continent a world-class programme that included activities such as the Africa Music Business Round Table onNovember 10.
The roundtable would bring together big music brands, music producers and intellectual property experts to discuss the needed networks and infrastructure for an expanding economically-vibrant music industry in Africa.
“Other events are the AFRIMA Music Village: an evening of a non-stop open music festival of live performances from the African stars and nominees, with an expected audience of 40,000 people.
“The main Awards ceremony on November 12 will present a star-studded and world-class event with live performances and television broadcast to 84 countries on 109 television stations around the world.”
