Ghana to host All Africa Music Awards

Ghana has been nominated as the host country for the Fifth Edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), slated for November this year.

The four-day event, from November 21 to 24, is aimed at using music to sell Africa to the rest of the world.

Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture said on Tuesday that the country’s nomination was a call to duty, and that, “every creative artist in the country, from the east to the west, from the north to the south must show the world that we were up to the task and even more”.

She said the narrative of Africa must change and that can be done through Africa’s music, by using it as a concrete for peace, to send strong signals to the rest of the world that although Africa had challenges they had overcome most of them.

“Our young people are talented, gifted, intelligent, and are ambassadors of hope for the next generation. Let us show the world that the first country in sub-Sahara Africa to free itself from mental slavery would use music to tell the story of Africa.

“Let Ghana carry the rest of the continent in November to tell the Ghana beyond aid story through music,” she said.

She entreated all to be advocates of AFRIMA to tell and share the message to the whole country especially in the rural areas and communities, and expressed appreciation to all who supported to get Ghana to host the AFRIMA for the next three years.

Mr Mike Dada, President of AFRIMA expressed appreciation to the Ministry for the support and collaboration, saying, the unveiling of Ghana as the host country of AFRIMA was not in doubt, as this was done in Ethiopia by the African Union Commission, the body responsible for driving AFRIMA.

He said “a letter was officially sent to the Minister on September 6 to this effect communicating the hosting right to the people of Ghana through the ministry”.

Mr Dada said fairness, objectivity, creativity, excellence, integrity and transparency, as the core values of AFRIMA, were informed by its clear cut values set to sell the positive side of Africa to the world.

Activities lined up for the four day event include AFRIMA welcome Soiree, on November 21, media interviews, Africa Music Business Summit, and AFRIMA music village on November 22.

A tour of the country would be held on November 23, and the main awards ceremony and a reception on November 24.