All Africa Music Awards

The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), in conjunction with the African Union Commission (AUC), is designed to promote the distinct rich African music worldwide, engaging millions of fans by propelling African music to glorious pinnacles beyond the borders of Africa. AFRIMA, the Pan Africa music awards is produced by PRM AFRICA located in Lagos, Nigeria to celebrate the most popular contemporary and traditional music in Africa.

The first edition of the annual AFRIMA award ceremony was held on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at the Grand Ballroom of Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island,Lagos, Nigeria after thorough planning and preparations.

Nigeria won the rights over 13 other countries to host the continental awards ceremony for three consecutive years, 2014 to 2016, after which the hosting right is bid for and taken up by another African country.

Structure of AFRIMA

AFRIMA is administered by the International Committee of (AFRIMA) made up of experts, professionals and administrators in the business, marketing, media, music, government and entertainment sectors of Africa, US and Europe.

As part of the AFRIMA decision making organ, the International Committee is supported by five AFRIMA Regional Directors and 54 Country Directors who manage affairs relating to the awards’ project in their respective regions and countries.

Point of Arrival

Prior to the award debut in 2014, debates and strategies had taken place from 2010 to create an African brand that will live up to the expectations of its internal and external stakeholders. Deliberations and conferencing included regional directors and strategists from the SADEC, Eastern Africa, Central Africa, Northern Africa and Western Africa. In October 2013, the entire awards concept was born and launched.

Values

The acronym of the AFRIMA Values is FACE IT:

• Fairness
• Authenticity
• Creativity
• Excellence
• Integrity
• Transparency

The Trophy

The 23.9 carat gold-plated trophy is in the form of a djembe drum and a microphone. The trophies have the recipient's name engraved on them. The trophy was visualised and conceptualised by Michael Dada, the President/Executive Producer of AFRIMA and designed by Tajudeen Ademola, Assistant Artistic Director of AFRIMA. According to the Bamana people of Mali, the djembe comes from saying "Ankedje, anke" which translates to: "Everyone gather together in peace".

Categories:

AFRIMA has over 31 categories with the categories being divided into two:Regional and Continental.

The Regional Categories

• Best Male Artiste of East Africa
• Best Female Artiste of East Africa
• Best Male Artiste Central Africa
• Best Female Artiste Central Africa
• Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa
• Best Female Artiste of Southern Africa
• Best Male Artiste in North Africa
• Best Female Artiste in North Africa
• Best Male Artiste of West Africa
• Best Female Artiste of West Africa

Continental Categories

• Best Male Artiste Inspirational Music
• Best Female Artiste Inspirational Music
• Best Inspirational Music Group
• Best Contemporary Traditional Artiste
• Best Traditional African Female Artiste
• Best Traditional African Male Artiste
• Revelation of the African Continent
• Producer of the Year
• Artiste of the Year
• Song of the Year
• Video of the Year
• Songwriter of the Year
• Album of the Year
• R‘n’B Music of the Year
• Pop Music of the Year
• Rap Music of the Year
• Rock Music of the Year
• Collaboration of the Year
• Ragga/Reggae Music of the Year
• AFRIMA Legend

Nomination and winners' emergence

Entries are screened and categorised by a 13-man jury of the AFRIMA Academy of Voters whose members come from the five regions of Africa (two from each region of Africa) and one each from the Diaspora of Europe and America.

Composition of Academy Voters

Eventual award winners emerge through a voting process which occurs via the (AFRIMA) Academy of Voters and the African Public (54 African countries in total). The Academy of Voters has been grouped into two categories as detailed below: (1)The 13-man Jury (2)The College of Voters, who comprise music professionals, heads of music labels, academics,DJs, veteran artistes, tourism/music/entertainment journalists and writers are nominated and selected from each country in Africa and the Diaspora.

Vote tally mechanics

Four tally mechanics have been defined for each award category. They include:

• 50% Public Votes and 50% Academy Votes
• 100% Academy Votes
• 100% Public Votes
• 100% International Committee Members (Only for the AFRIMA Legend Award).

This entire adjudication process is monitored and audited by an International Auditing Firm.

2014 AFRIMA

Host: Innocent 2Baba Idibia, a Nigeria -born International recording artiste Co-Host: Maryse Acotie, a Togolese-born bilingual radio and TV personality

AFRIMA winners list (2014)

Continental Categories (2014)

2014 Leading winner

At the maiden edition of AFRIMA awards, Davido carted home the highest number of trophies with four (4) of the coveted trophies: Best Male Artist in West Africa, Best African Hip Hop, Song of the Year and Best Artist.

AFRIMA Awards list (2015)

Regional categories (2015)

AFRICA's STARS SHINE AT AFRIMA 2016

It was a night of glitz and glamour at the third annual All Africa Music Awards ceremony which held on Sunday November 6, 2016 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. The prestigious event, which was broadcast live to countries around the world, had dignitaries, music artistes, industry stakeholders, African Union officials, and media executive in attendance.

Also gracing the occasion were the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, his wife, Bolanle and the Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule.

To host the AFRIMA 2016 award night were South African media personality, Bonang Matheba; music act, Ahmed Soultan and Cameroonian TV personality Ika Jong.

Nigeria proved to be a dominant force in African music as some '''Nigerian''' artistes carted away nine (9) of the awards; the most by any country, out of which Afropop singer, Flavour N'bania, won two. Morocco/Cameroon artistes clinched four(4) awards each.

South Africa's Black Coffee, VVIP from Ghana, Uganda's Cindy Sanyu, Bruna Tatiana of Central Africa, Flavour (Nigeria), Zainab, (Benin Republic) and Falz thebahdguy (Nigeria) are some of the winners of the prestigious awards.

Ageless Manu Dibango (Cameroon) won the AFRIMA Legendary Award. Dibango's Nigerian counterpart, Juju Music maestro, King Sunny Ade (Nigeria), who clocked 70 years in September 2016 was honored with a tribute session during the event by star artistes. KSA also got a special recognition award for his unparallel contribution to world music. Late Papa Wemba, one of Africa's best artistes from Democratic Republic of Congo, who died while playing on stage in April 2016, earned a post-humous AFRIMA Special Recognition Award which was received by his wife… and daughter.

The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) was established, in conjunction with the Africa Union (AU), to celebrate and reward the creative impetus of musicians in Africa. Below are the continental and regional categories and their respective winners: AFRIMA winners Awards list (2016)

Continental Categories (2016)

Regional categories (2016)

References

• http://dailytimes.com.ng/need-know-afrima-2015/
• https://nationaldailyng.com/2015/afrima-closing-the-gaps-between-music-politics-and-journalism/
• http://www.modernghana.com/music/29123/3/afrima-holds-soiree-for-creative-industry.html
• http://www.journalducameroun.com/article.php?aid=22160
• http://tooxclusive.com/news/all-africa-music-awards-afrima-2015-winners-list/
• http://ngrguardianlife.com/2015/11/over-the-weekend-full-list-of-afrima-winners/
• http://tecnoownthestage.com/afrima-award/
• http://www.newsofthepeople-ng.com/pictures-from-afrima-2015-night-of-stars/
• http://www.sde.co.ke/article/2000182961/patriotism-is-dead-says-ali-kiba-after-failing-to-congratulate-afrima-winners
• http://citifmonline.com/2015/11/16/2015-afrima-awards-wiyaala-stonebwoy-make-ghana-proud/
• https://citizentv.co.ke/entertainment/giving-up-ali-kiba-finally-praises-diamond-platnumz-106544/
• http://www.mediaupdate.co.za/media/84374/aka-awarded-at-2015-afrimas
• http://www.sde.co.ke/article/2000182961/patriotism-is-dead-says-ali-kiba-after-failing-to-congratulate-afrima-winners
• http://www.cameroonvoice.com/news/article-news-21176.html
• http://www.journalducameroun.com/article.php?aid=22164
• http://www.journalducameroun.com/article.php?aid=22160
• https://nationaldailyng.com/2015/afrima-closing-the-gaps-between-music-politics-and-journalism/
• http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1411933/coke-studio-stars-win-afrima
• http://sunnewsonline.com/new/african-music-stars-celebs-rock-afrima-2015/
• https://www.thecable.ng/tinubu-darey-olamide-win-2015-afrima
• http://dailytimes.com.ng/need-know-afrima-2015/
• http://www.leadership.ng/entertainment/476861/thrills-as-lagos-stands-still-for-afrima-2015
• https://www.naij.com/639150-exclusive-2face-olamide-kiss-daniels-diamond-others-wowed-audience-afrima-awards-photos.html
• http://nigerianpilot.com/afrima-2015-a-night-of-surprises/
• http://www.nairaland.com/2740178/photos-afrima-2015
• http://www.jaybossng.com/2015/11/photos-from-afrima-2015.html
• http://www.nairaland.com/2740178/photos-afrima-2015
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ubnyeTUM1E

External links

• www.afrima.org