The African Union (AU) Commission has restated its continuous support and commitment to the partnership with the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) at a strategic meeting held at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The organisers of AFRIMA met with the Commission on February 12 after the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the union.
In attendance at the strategic meeting for the advancement of creative industry in Africa and preparation for AFRIMA 2020 were Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Amira Elfadil; Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammed; Director, Department of Social Affairs, AUC, Mme Mariama Mohamed; Head of Culture, AUC, Angela Martins; President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada and Country Director-Designate, AFRIMA-Ethiopia, Eyob Alemayehu among others.
Elfadil, in her remark, expressed appreciation to the International Committee of AFRIMA for consistently striving towards achieving the shared objectives of an integrated, peaceful and prosperous Africa through the platform of AFRIMA.
She also thanked the Nigerian government for always giving support to the successful hosting of the AFRIMA pan-African initiative.
“The African Union will continue to support and partner AFRIMA on this journey of leveraging the platform of music, art and culture to engage young people as well as unite and promote Africa positively to the world,” she said.
Mohammed urged the AU not to relent in its partnership with AFRIMA.
President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mike Dada, a public relations/brand management consultant and lawyer, thanked the AU and the Nigerian government for their selfless support and partnership over the years.
“The planning and preparation for AFRIMA 2020 are in top gear and we are ready to wow and bring Africa together again in an atmosphere of love, unity, celebration and forward-thinking that will act as the growth engine for intra-Africa trade and development,” he said.
Meanwhile, Twelve Heads of State have committed themselves to play the role of leadership, advocacy and facilitation for arts, culture and heritage in Africa at the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU and adopted a draft resolution that will be tabled with a view to declaring 2021 as the year of culture to develop creative industries.
President of Mali, Ibrahim Keïta, was designated AU Leader for Arts, Culture and Heritage with the establishment of a presidential-level structure of 12 African Heads of State; Presidents of Cape Verde, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Egypt, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Africa as a council of the peers to carry out the mission.
The All African Music Awards, AFRIMA in partnership with the African Union is in its 7th edition.
