TELL Magazine

Stars Battle For AFRIMA 2017

The contest for this year`s All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) is set to get underway as many musicians across the continent jostle for one of  Africa’s prestigious awards. Unlike many others, AFRIMA awards stand out for its public voting procedure that embodies fairness, authenticity, creativity, excellence, integrity and transparency, qualities that the African Union Commission share. AFRIMA Academy, comprising music production experts and analysts, will also be involved in the open online voting process.

The event is scheduled for November 10 to 12 and includes the Africa Music Business Roundtable which attracts members of the African music industry to deliberate on how the sector can create  jobs and improve people’s income. It will also showcase AFRIMA Music Village, an evening of non-stop open music festival of live performances from African stars and nominees, with an expected  20,000 audience.

Music lovers across the continent are expected to vote for their favorite artistes in regional and continental categories during the voting period. The works assessed by  AUC-AFRIMA’s 13-man fall within August 1, 2016 –July 17, 2017.

On the whole, AFRIMA 2017 promises to be a star studded, world class event, with the main awards ceremony on November 12 to be transmitted to 84 countries on 109 television stations around the world.

In partnership with the African Union Commission, AFRIMA aims to celebrate the rich musical heritage of the African continent.  It employs the tool of music to encourage unity, cooperation, interaction, partnership and progress on the continent.

Stars like Angolan Anselmo Ralph, a traditional crooner from Mali, Oumou Sangare and Nigerian pop-star, Wizkid lead the pack of most nominated African music talents to the event. While Ralph and Sangara secured six nominations, Wizkid got seven. This was revealed on Thursday, August 17 when the African Union and the International Committee of AFRIMA unveiled the nominee’s list while also disclosing that public voting on AFRIMA website, www.afrima.org begins from Monday, August 21. All five African regions are represented in the contest. Voting closes on November 11.