The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) set the Ghanaian music and culture industry on fire on Monday, May 21 as the calendar of events for the 5th edition of the awards was unveiled by the African Union. This came after a courtesy visit to the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at the Presidential Office in Accra.
Welcoming the delegation led by the Head of Culture, African Union Commission, Mrs. Angela Martins at the Presidential Office, Jubilee House, Accra, President Akufo-Addo lauded the initiative of AFRIMA in conceiving a platform that showcases Africa positively to the world through music and propagation of African cultural heritage.
“The people of Ghana are proud to host the 2018 AFRIMA World Media Calendar Unveiling event and to receive the delegation of officials of AU and AFRIMA as well the talented artistes and the media. I’m excited to 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 will host the main awards ceremony,” the president said.
Other government officials who received the AU-AFRIMA delegation included the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Catherine Abelema Afeku; Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo; Principal Personal Assistant to the President, Saratu Atta, Chief Director, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Joel Sonne; Director, Tourism Council, Ghana, Chief Nana Anim and celebrated Ghanaian artistes, Nana Kwame Ampadu.
President Akufo-Addo further prompted the Minister of Tourism, Catherine Afeku to see to the completion of the formalities required to enable Ghana ratify the charter on African Culture Renaissance.
Earlier, while delivering the AU’s remarks, Mrs. Angela Martins expressed gratitude to the government and people of Ghana for the commitment and support displayed towards hosting the 2018 AFRIMA Calendar Unveiling.
“We cherish the partnership with the government of Ghana since it will enhance the pan-African nature of the AFRIMA initiative. The AU also uses the AFRIMA platform to voice key messages related to arts and culture and other social issues, for example, the campaign on Ebola in 2014,” she said.
The International Committee of AFRIMA was represented at the courtesy visit by President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada; Director, Brand Communications, AFRIMA, Matlou Tsotetsi; AFRIMA Regional Director, Central Africa, Ernest Ewane; AFRIMA Regional Director, West Africa; Don Obilor; AFRIMA co-producer/country director Nigeria, Kingsley James; AFRIMA Country Director, Ghana, Francis Doku, AFRIMA jury member (West Africa), Olisa Adibua and AFRIMA Consultant, Regional Partnerships and Sponsorship, Bukola Bello-Jaiyesimi.
Meanwhile, the AFRIMA calendar unveiling took place later in the day at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra where the theme of the awards “Africa is Music” was also revealed to the large gathering of international media.
The ceremony was well attended by record label owners, culture industry practitioners and top artistes such as Sarkodie (Ghana); Tuface Idibia (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 Jah Phinga (Ghana) among others.
The AFRIMA 2018 calendar details build up and main events leading to the awards ceremony slated for November 25, 2018.