Olamide

The International Commit
tee for the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) said in Lagos last Thursday that it had received 2, 558 entries for the 2015 edition.
According to the organisers, the entries by African artistes were received on the AFRIMA website and social media platforms as well as from record companies and entertainment journalists.
Also submitted were works from artistes in the Diaspora.
All the works to be considered must have been produced between May 31, 2014 and July 31, 2015 according to the stipulated guidelines by the academy of the jury of AFRIMA.
Mr Steve Ayorinde, Chairman, International Media Committee of AFRIMA, said the development had shown the importance that had now been attached to the programme.
“The international committee is excited about the quality of entries received this year as many are from accomplished artistes in African music.
“The impressive number of entries received is a reflection of growth and acceptability of the vision and ideals of AFRIMA’s commitment to communicate Africa to the rest of the world via art, music, tourism and entertainment.’’
Ayorinde said the entries received this year were progressively higher than the 2,025 entries received for the 2014 edition.
Out of the entries received this year, 73 were from music and entertainment journalists across Africa, while entries were from artistes, songwriters, video directors, music producers and record companies made up the rest.
As part of the adjudication process which will last for seven days, the submitted works will be screened by a 13-man jury panel, representing the five regions of Africa and the Diaspora.
There will be representatives from Kenya, Senegal, Republic of Benin, Uganda, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon, the U.K. and U.S. as well as a representative from the African Union.
Following the adjudication process, a nomination list will be released to the public on a later date in August 2015, to vote for a nominee in each of the 33 categories of the award.
The founder of the awards, Mr Mike Dada, also revealed that this year’s event would hold on November 15 in Nigeria.
He added that it would be preceded by the AFRIMA Music Village, a two-day event of music festivities featuring national pavilions, cultural/entertainment exhibitions and music concerts between November 13 and November14.
There will also be an Africa Music Summit on November 13 with the theme “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa’’.
Our Entertainment Desk reports that this is the second edition of AFRIMA.
This year’s edition of the awards is in partnership with African Union Commission (AUC), ONE Campaign and Africa 2.0.
Meanwhile, Nigerian artistes topped the list of the 2nd edition of the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) scheduled for Dallas in October.
According to statement from the organisers the Award, which would hold at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters was to celebrate the beauty of African music and artistry.
The statement noted that “the show will honour some of Africa’s top music artistes, producers and cultural influencers.’’
It stated that the Best Male West Africa category had the highest number of Nigerian nominees, including Davido, Wizkid, Flavour and Olamide.
AFRIMMA, also the Crossing Boundaries With Music Award, had the highest number of Nigerians, including Wale, Nneka, Asa, Jidenna and Tinnie Tempah.
Nigeria’s P-square was also nominated for the Best African Group.
Also, the Best Newcomer category was topped by Nigerian artistes Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello and Lil Kesh.
The Best Collaboration category was flooding with nominee collaborations with various Nigerian artistes such as Kcee, J Martins, Burna Boy, among others.
Similarly, Nigeria’s DJ Jimmy Jatt and DJ Exclusive were nominated for the Best DJ Africa award.
For the AFRIMMA Video of the Year, Ojuelegba by Wizkid, Golibe by Flavour and My Darling by Tiwa Savage were nominated.
Mavin Records CEO, Don Jazzy, was nominated for the Music Producer of the Year, alongside Shizzi.