Ghana might host 2018 AFRIMA

Akufo-Addo said as much when he welcomed a delegation comprising staff of AFRIMA and the African Union (AU) on Monday. The visit preceded an announcement of plans and dates for the 2018 AFRIMA programme.

“The people of Ghana are proud to host the 2018 AFRIMA world media calendar unveiling event and to receive the delegation of officials of AU and AFRIMA as well the talented artists and the media,” Akufo-Addo said.

“I’m excited to hear AFRIMA is engaging the rest of the world on an intellectual platform with conferences and the music awards. We hope you have had a remarkable experience of Ghanaian hospitality. Our hope is that we will host the main awards ceremony.”

Among others, in attendance were the AU’s head of culture, Angela Martins, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Catherine Abelema Afeku, executive secretary to the president Nana Asante Bediatuo and the principal personal assistant to the president, Saratu Atta.

“We cherish the partnership with the government of Ghana since it will enhance the pan-African nature of the AFRIMA initiative," Martins said at the event. "The AU also uses the AFRIMA platform to voice key messages related to arts and culture and other social issues, for example the campaign on Ebola in 2014. ”

At the calendar unveiling event on the same day, the 2018 theme was revealed to be Africa is Music. It was attended by Ghana’s Sarkodie, Nigeria’s 2Baba, Kenya’s Victoria Kimani, Ghana’s Becca, Morocco’s Ahmed Soultan, Nigeria’s Falz and others. The artists gave their views during a two-part interactive discussion session on the theme Enhancing Music Business in Africa.

“Before now, the world of music, fashion and arts were not being taken seriously unlike politics,” Kimani said. “But the progress that has been registered in today’s music industry makes it easier to have a more confident ecosystem that encourages the production of good music on the continent.”

According to the 2018 calendar, music professionals will be able to submit their work for consideration by the AFRIMA jury starting tomorrow 25 May. The deadline for submissions is 1 August. The ceremony proper is slated for 25 November.