AFRIMA receives over 8 000 song and video submissions

It marks a 63% increase considering the receipt of over 4 000 submissions for the 2017 edition. Eastern Africa tops with 45% of the total receipt, followed by West Africa with 34%. Southern, Central and Northern Africa had 13%, 6% and 2% respectively.

"The African Union [AU] commends the creative sector of Africa for participating so well in the AFRIMA entry submission process which closed on 1 August 2018 and in ensuring that the music industry remains relevant for the sustainable growth of Africa’s economy, which the AU is championing through the cultural and creative agenda,” AU Commission acting director of social affairs Machacha Shepande said.

“The receipt in the AFRIMA platform, this year, of over 8 000 of entries across the five regions of Africa shows clearly the growth and importance of this continent-wide platform in the promotion and development of the cultural and creative industries on the continent more specifically the creative industry of music.

"The significant rise in the entries has also shown that African talents spread across the continent are awakening to the call to promote our cultural and creative industry continentally as well as to the world at large. The continent’s creative industry can only grow when we give relevant support to our creative talent and craft.

“Thus, the AU Commission calls upon AU member states, and other stakeholders in the music industry to continue supporting its efforts in the development and promotion of the creative economy sector through the AFRIMA platform and other pan-African cultural initiatives.

Bob Ekukole, a juror representing Central Africa, said: “The muse of music seems to happily hover over the hills and valleys of our beautiful continent with AFRIMA as the fulcrum. With 8 009 entries, it is a resounding belief in AFRIMA’s vision, dream, growth and acceptability by the African artists worldwide to communicate Africa to the rest of the world via art, culture, music, tourism and entertainment."

The window for submission of entries was from 25 May to 1 August 2018. Works accepted had to be produced and released between 1 August 2017 and 1 August 2018.

The entries will be screened by Afrima's jury, which will take from 7 to 15 August to complete the adjudication process.