AFRIMA 3.0 gains strong support with Obasanjo

As part of the build-up towards a successful 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), the African Union Commission (AUC) and AFRIMA International Committee recently paid a courtesy visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo, while receiving the team in his Abeokuta, Ogun State residence, commended AFRIMA and the AUC for unifying Africa through music, saying that music is part of African culture; thus, there is need for music and culture to be commercialised in order to create jobs and reduce poverty among African youths.

He called on the committee and the AUC not to relent efforts in achieving the set objectives through the awards, saying that events such as, AFRIMA are platforms for promoting the African culture and unity; as a result it requires huge resources to organise.

Obasanjo recalled similar projects when he was Head of State and elected president that have help foster unity in the continent to include Festival of Art and Culture in Africa (FESTAC ‘77) and All African Games (COJA 2003). He, therefore, called on governments and corporate organisations within the continent to partner with AFRIMA in ensuring successful and hitches free awards.

President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mike Dada, in his remark, intimated the former president with the objectives of the awards platform. He noted that the award scheme seeks to unite Africans through the instrumentality of art, music, culture and entertainment, as well as promote and reward upcoming and established talents in the continent.

He said, “the meeting and visit is in recognition of the former president as the former Chairperson of the African Union (AU) between July 2004 and January 2006,” adding, “Obasanjo is a global icon, culture enthusiast and champion of African renaissance.”

According to Dada, AFRIMA remains steadfast to the AUC’s values of promoting African unity and celebrating cultural uniqueness. He thanked the former President for receiving AFRIMA team and specially invites him to the awards schedule to hold in November 2016.

Dada explained that AFRIMA is a music property developed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical culture of Africa; stimulate conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the globe about the great potentials and values of the African culture and artistic heritage for the purpose of creating jobs, reducing poverty, calling attention of world leaders to Africa and promoting the positive image of Africa to the world.

The awards will be formally unveiled in May by the African Union Commission (AUC) and International Committee of AFRIMA at the 10th anniversary celebration of the African Union Youth Charter.