AFRIMA will showcase the splendour of Africa through music - Catherine Afeku

Mrs Catherine Ablemaa Afeku, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture has said, Africa will showcase its splendour through music, arts and culture when industry players in creative arts from the continent converge here in Ghana.

Ghana is the host of the 5th All African Music Awards (AFRIMA), which comes off from November 21- 24, and for the next three years the country would continue to host the event.

Mrs. Afeku was speaking at a press conference in Accra, ahead of the event, when she said, Ghana was proud to host, adding that preparations were far advanced by her ministry with support from the Ghana government.

She said, Ghana was ready to receive all the big acts on the continent as they gather to sell out the African music, arts and culture.

She added that it was an avenue to put Ghana on the map again and to showcase to the world what the country had in terms of its culture and entertainment.

Mike Gada, the President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA explained the programme line up for the event.

He said this year's event would begin from Wednesday, November 21 to Saturday, November 24 under the theme ‘Africa is Gold’.

He said the first day on November 21 would be the AFRIMA Welcome Soiree, a reception in honour of arriving AFRIMA nominees and delegates, African Union officials, members of the International Committee of AFRIMA, media and other invited guests.

This he said would be followed by the Africa Music Business Summit (AMBS) on November 22 at the Ballroom, Kempinski Hotel, Gold Coast City, Accra, between 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. under the theme “African Music in a Global Village: Leveraging the Opportunities".

The annual AMBS would be a panel discussion platform to interrogate and strategize on the business of music in Africa while charting a synergistic way forward for development and economic empowerment for the music talents.

It is a platform for business networking and interaction among music professionals, music executives, government officials and other stakeholders in the music, media and financial sectors of Africa while discussing the potentials present in the continent’s music industry and ways to harness its socio-economic gains.

Later in the day on November 22, at the AFRIMA Music Village, lovers and fans of African music are in for high octane performances by upcoming and A-list artistes from across the continent in a festival-style music concert which holds at the 100,000-capacity Independence Square, Accra, from 5.00 p.m. till dawn. The event will be broadcasted live on dedicated satellite event channels.

In a bid to showcase the cultural and historical dynamism of the beautiful host city, invited guests will be treated to a tour of landmarks and sights of Accra on Friday, November 23. This will be followed by the Nominee’s Party from 10.00 p.m.

The live broadcast of the Main Awards Ceremony on Saturday, November 24 will have in attendance high profile guests from across the continent and the Diaspora.

It is scheduled for the Accra International Conference Centre, AICC, 7.30 p.m., in a star-studded awards show which will begin with the live-broadcast red carpet at 4.30 p.m. The awards ceremony to be broadcast to 84 countries on 105 partner media channels will also feature a potpourri of performances from some 2018 AFRIMA nominees, past award winners, and special guest artistes.

Wrapping up the thrilling event programme is the 5th AFRIMA After-Party at the Pool Bar, Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast, Accra, Ghana.