AU unveils AFRIMA 2018 calendar in Accra

Welcoming the visiting delegation led by the Head of Culture, AfricanUnion Commission, Mrs. Angela Martins, at the Presidential Office, JubileeHouse, Accra, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, lauded theinitiative of AFRIMA in conceiving a platform that showcases Africapositively to the world through the creativity of the music talents andthe distinctive African cultural heritage.

READ ALSO: Out now! “The people of Ghana are proud to host the 2018 AFRIMA World MediaCalendar Unveiling event and to receive the delegation of officials of AUand AFRIMA as well the talented artistes and the media. I’m excited tohear AFRIMA is engaging the rest of the world on an intellectual platformwith conferences and the music awards. We hope you have had a remarkableexperience of Ghanaian hospitality. Our hope is that we will host the mainawards ceremony”, the President stated.

Other officials of the government of Ghana who received the AU-AFRIMAdelegation included the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture,Hon. Catherine Abelema Afeku; Executive Secretary to the President, NanaAsante Bediatuo; Principal Personal Assistant to the President, SaratuAtta:  Chief Director, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Dr. JoelSonne; Director, Tourism Council, Ghana, Chief Nana Anim and celebratedGhanaian music artistes such as veteran Nana Kwame Ampadu who joinedartistes from other African countries for the courtesy visit.

The President further prompted the Honourable Minister of Tourism,Catherine Afeku to see to the completion of the formalities required toenable Ghana ratify the Charter on African Culture Renaissance.Earlier, while delivering the AU’s remarks to President Akufo-Addo, Mrs.Angela Martins expressed gratitude to the government and people of Ghanafor the commitment and support displayed towards hosting the 2018 AFRIMACalendar Unveiling.

“We cherish the partnership with the government of Ghana since it willenhance the pan-African nature of the AFRIMA initiative. The AU also usesthe AFRIMA platform to voice key messages related to the Arts and Cultureand other social issues for example the campaign on Ebola in 2014”, shebuttressed.

READ ALSO: Pascal Amanfo: The international Committee of AFRIMA was represented at the courtesyvisit by President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada;Director, Brand Communications, AFRIMA, Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi; AFRIMARegional Director, Central Africa, Mr. Ernest Ewane; AFRIMA RegionalDirector, West Africa; Mr. Don Obilor; AFRIMA Co-Producer/Country DirectorNigeria, Mr. Kingsley James; AFRIMA Country Director Ghana, Mr. FrancisDoku, AFRIMA Jury Member (West Africa), Mr. Olisa Adibua and AFRIMAConsultant, Regional Partnerships and Sponsorship, Dr. Bukola Bello-Jaiyesimi.

Meanwhile, the Calendar Unveiling of the 5th AFRIMA took place later inthe day at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra where the theme of theawards “Africa is Music” was also revealed to the large gathering ofAfrican and international media.The ceremony, well-attended by record label owners, culture industrypractitioners and music artistes such as Sarkodie (Ghana); 2Baba(Nigeria); Victoria Kimani (Kenya); Becca (Ghana); Ahmed Soultan(Morocco); Stanley Enow (Cameroon); Seyi Shay (Nigeria); Emtee (SouthAfrica); Falz (Nigeria); Fancy Gaddam (Ghana); Stanley Adjetey (Ghana);Dark Suburb (Ghana); Zeynab (Republic of Benin) and Jah Phinga (Ghana),among others, featured a two-part interactive discussion session on thetheme “Enhancing Music Business in Africa”.This conference preceded the formal unveiling of the 2018 AFRIMA Calendarby Mrs. Angela Martins and Director, Brand Communications, AFRIMA, Ms.Matlou Tsotetsi, The 5th AFRIMA Calendar details build up and main eventsactivities leading up to the 5th AFRIMA Main Awards ceremony slated forNovember 25, 2018. Build up events include musical conferences andconcerts around the different regions of Africa but more importantly, onMay 25 (Africa Day), the 2018 AFRIMA opens the call for submission ofworks/song by African music professionals released within the eligibilityperiod to compete for possible nomination in one or more of the 36categories of the awards. The submission will end on August 1, 2018.

Panel discussants including Ghanaian artistes and artistes from differentAfrican countries and culture/creative industry executives, professionalsand practitioners discussed the challenges faced by the creative industryin Africa while also proffering inventive solutions to enhance the futureof the music business on the continent. Some creative industry discussantsincluded President, Creative Arts Council, Ghana, Mr. Mark Okraku Manteyand AFRIMA Regional Director, West Africa, Mr. Don Obilor.

READ ALSO: Pulse Fashion: According to Kenyan music diva, Victoria Kimani, “Before now, the world ofmusic, fashion and arts were not being taken seriously unlike politics,but the progress that have been registered in today’s music industry makesit easier to have a more confident ecosystem that encourages theproduction of good music around the continent”.Nigerian Afro pop singer, Seyi Shay, shared how the African music industryhas empowered her as an artiste and how the system has given most artistesthe control over their music.Encouraging artistes to focus on building an authentic music brand,Ghanaian rap star, Sarkodie, talked about increasing the numbers ofprofessionals in the music business that can provide structure andtechnical music production where everybody can in turn make more moneythrough music business.Nigerian artiste Falz encouraged artiste to not only have musicalcollaborations with fellow artistes but also with huge brands with whomartistes can share ideas and initiatives for support to help them grow inmusic business.Giving his submission on the discussion theme, Innocent ‘2Baba’ Idibiasaid proper structure must be put in place to ensure that investors in themusic industry can get returns on their money.The AFRIMA 2018 Calendar Unveiling event was hosted by the government andpeople of Ghana as part of the AU policy to achieve its objective ofpromoting social integration in the five regions of Africa. The 5th AFRIMAwill also feature high-octane music concerts tagged “Turn Up Africa” whichobjective is to connect fans and followers of African music with theirfavourite Africa music stars of the traditional and contemporary genres.In partnership with the African Union, the All Africa Music Awards is amusic property that recognizes and rewards the work and talent of myriadof African artists from the old to the new generation of musicians.Through its conference, AFRIMA also stimulates conversations amongAfricans and between Africa and the rest of the world about the potentialof the creative arts for real humanizing enterprise on the continentcontributing significantly to social cohesion, national, regional andcontinental integration as well as sustainable development in Africa. Itis broadcast live to over 84 countries.