Despite the many controversies that have been associated with Ghana’s hosting of the fifth edition of the All Africa Music Awards, it comes to a climax today as the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) will this evening host over 125 artistes across Africa. The event is regarded as the biggest music festival in Africa and deserving artists in the year under review will be awarded based on public votes.
Among the 22 categories to be awarded are Album of the Year, Best Artist, Duo or Group of the Year in an African country, Best African DJ, Best African Rapper or Lyricist, Most Promising Artiste in Africa, Producer of the Year, Revelation of the African Continent, Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
This year, topping the list of 2018 AFRIMA with seven nominations each are Democratic Republic of Congo-born international recording artist and rapper, Maître Gims and South Africa’s songstress and songwriter, Shekhinah.
Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and Ethiopia’s Betty G follow with six nominations while Simi (Nigeria) and Nasty C (South Africa) grabbed five nominations each.
Some Ghanaian artistes nominated in various categories for AFRIMA are KiDi, Kuami Eugene, King Promise, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Efya, Ebony, Joe Mettle, and Becca. Lynx Entertainment duo, Kuami Eugene and KiDi are competing for the Most Promising Artiste of the Year award.
The awards ceremony to be broadcast to 84 countries on 105 partner media channels will feature broadcast of the red carpet at 4.30 p.m before the main show at 7:30 pm. Renowned Ghanaian-born American actor and comedian, Michael Blackson, South Africa’s talented TV personality, Pearl Thusi, and Ghana’s media personality, Anita Erskine will host the live stage of the main awards ceremony tonight.
Ghana has been the only other country in Africa which has hosted the event since it was established in 2014. The AFRIMA has always been held in Nigeria. It seeks to reward and celebrate musical works, talents, and creativity around the African continent while promoting Africa’s cultural heritage.
The four-day event started with a welcome soiree for foreign nominees at the Kempinski Hotel on Wednesday, November 21. This was followed by the ‘Africa Music Business Summit’ (AMBS) on Thursday, November 22, at the Ballroom of Kempinski Hotel, after which music lovers enjoyed performances by artists across the continent at the ‘AFRIMA Music Village’, at the Black Star Square in Accra.
Check out videos from the launch below…
