In planning for the 2015 edition of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, the African Union Commission, AUC in a meeting with the International Committee of AFRIMA expressed interest in four cities in Nigeria namely, port Harcourt, Lagos, Uyo, and Calabar, to host the continental award which is billed to take place in Nigeria in November 13 to 15, 2015.
In a letter from Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, commissioner for social affairs, AUC, and sent to the four states to indicate their interest in partnering with AFRIMA as the official host city of the event, it was stated that the main purpose of the partnership was to showcase the tourism and economic potentials of the host city and promote its strengths to a global audience which in turn adds to the GDP of the state and the continent at large.
“Hosting AFRIMA presents a lot of benefits that would help in raising the continental and international profile of the host city and this benefits includes, long term investment and job creation, adoption of new benchmarks for city development, increased civic pride and community empowerment, increased tourism and publicity and ultimately an opportunity to tap into the millions of participants and followers of the growing African music” Kaloko said.
Matlou Tsotetsi, director of sponsorship and communication, AFRIMA, added, “The host city will be one that is willing to create value and deep brand equity not only for Nigerians but Africans. It must have the most motivation to host AFRIMA in line with its values; have the strongest vision in tourism, culture and entertainment. Also adequate facilities, surrounding infrastructure, security and tourist attraction to host the event and should have hosted successful events in the past that attracted both national and or global audiences.”
As Tsotetsi further remarked, AUC has taken interest in the four mentioned states “because they share in AFRIMA`s vision of promoting and preserving Africa`s rich culture. The 2015 edition of AFRIMA will be hosted in Nigeria after she won hosting rights above 13 other countries in 2013 to host the event for three years between 2014 and 2016.”.
In partnership with the AUC, the 2015 AFRIMA awards ceremony is expected to be a star studded event that will be broadcast in 84 countries and on 109 television stations across the world. The award holds on Sunday, November 15, 2015 and will be preceded by the “Africa Music Summit” on November 13, themed “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa”. The Summit is a platform for the African music industry stakeholders to engage and deliberate on how the music industry in Africa could be nurtured in a way that adds to the GDP of the continent. The Summit will also examine opportunities for job creation in the vibrant music industry as a tool for reducing poverty and insecurity in Africa.
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