The African Union Commission (AUC) has lauded the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) initiative , on its impact across the continent, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Ms. Angela Martins, Head of Culture Division in the Commission, said this in a statement by Uche Nneka, Media communication officer, AFRIMA, emailed to NAN in Abuja.
Martins spoke at the unveiling of the 2017 AFRIMA Calendar in South Africa ahead of the opening of entry submission on May 8.
“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’’.
Martins who spoke further on its partnership with AFRIMA 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 popularising these continental tools’’.
Earlier, Mr. Mike Dada, President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, said that the first activity on the continental awards event calendar was the submission of entries which opens globally on May 8 and closes on July 17.
Dada advised artistes, managers, producers, record label owners, video directors, publicists and entertainment/music journalists to submit their works or those 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 said.
The event had in attendance AU officials, members of the International Committee of AFRIMA, past AFRIMA winners and nominees from Southern African, media executives in Southern Africa.
Others included stakeholders in the creative/entertainment industry in Africa.
AFRIMA, is a music property developed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical culture of Africa, stimulate conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the globe about the great potential and values of the African culture and artistic heritage for the purpose of creating jobs, reducing poverty, calling attention of world leaders to Africa and promoting the positive image of Africa to the world.
AFRIMA 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. (NAN)