BREAKING NEWS, Entertainment
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THE African Union Commission and the ministers of youths, culture and sports in Africa has called on African Union member states to give enormous support to the activities of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA. The appeal was given after the meeting of experts and the ministers at the African Union 2nd Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports, STC-YCS2.
The meeting on how to make AFRIMA work was held at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from June 13 to 17. The ministers encouraged member states to further collaborate ns and call on African corporate giants to support the AFRIMA initiative which would drive unity and growth on the continent.
In his support speech, Remi Sagna, deputy minister of culture and communication, Senegal, said, “AFRIMA cannot come at a better time than this. With our support, AFRIMA will serve the vacuum to promote African music and realness as well as encouraging our youth to be the best.”
AFRIMA is in line with the African Union Agenda 2063 being a framework for Africa’s development for the next 50 years. AFRIMA has presented itself as a crucial source to guide and inform initiatives by member states to provide their contribution from the culture and heritage sectors to the sustainable development of the continent.
Aspiration five of the AU Agenda 2063 addresses cultural issues and it aspires: “An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics; inculcating the spirit of Pan-Africanism; tapping Africa’s rich heritage and culture to ensure that the creative arts are major contributors to Africa’s growth and transformation.
Reacting to the common cultural identity, the minister of tourism and culture in Libya asked that Arabic and Portuguese languages be included in the communication activaties of AFRIMA to ensure further inclusiveness. While Abla Dzifa Gomashie, deputy minister for tourism, culture and creative arts, Ghana, stated that “AFRIMA is a good initiative and has the capacity to promote Africa beyond borders. You have our support.”
Lupwishi Mbuyamba, president, African Music Council, said one of the cardinal objectives of the African Music Council, AMC, is to promote regional musical cooperation, interregional and international music cooperation. “Therefore, we welcome AFRIMA contributions to Africa integration. We are solidly behind you.”
At the end of the meeting of ministers, there was a recommendation to make AFRIMA work and ready to promote the narrative of African story and asked everybody (corporate and government) to come on board to be part of the growing cultural movement of AFRIMA.
It would be recalled that in recognition of its contributions to inspire African youths and raise the consciousness of African identity and renaissance through music, culture and entertainment for continental growth and development, an invitation was extended to Mike Dada, president and executive producer, AFRIMA, to address the African Union 2nd Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports, STC-YCS2.
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 musical 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 for global competitiveness.
For the 2016 edition, AFRIMA 3.0 calendar opens and entry of submission closes on July 30. The submission is open for entries from artistes, songwriters, music/entertainment journalists, video directors, music producers, and unrecorded artistes across the continent and Africans in Diaspora. The 2016 edition tagged “AFRIMA 3.0” will hold in November in Nigeria.
— Jul 4, 2016 @ 01:00 GMT
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