Entertainment
Nigeria To Host All Africa Music Awards …As Committee Calls For Entries
The All Africa Music
Awards, AFRIMA stakeholders conference with the theme: “Harnessing our music potentials for Africa’s development” was held on April 15, 2014 in Victoria Island, Lagos which prepared the ground towards heralding the biggest music awards on African continent billed to hold in Nigeria in October 25, 2014.
The Producer and Regional Director, East Africa, Mr Mike Strano during his opening presentation at the event noted that AFRIMA is a narrative of African music, culture and heritage on the global stage, it is fashioned as a medium to enhance African music industry’s bottom line and communicated harmony in Africa with the mandate of producing an international platform to celebrate our cultural heritage and values, rewarding up and coming as well as established talent and celebrating sustainable growth of the African music industry as a contribution to national and continental economics.
It was gathered that the international committee of AFRIMA has opened submission of entries for musical works across Africa for the 2014 edition. Entries open from May 15, 2014 to July 5, 2014 and the following music professionals of African origin living either on the continent or abroad are eligible to enter for the awards under the 30 categories such as: Artists, Song Writers, Video Directors, Music producers and music journalists, as well as unrecorded artistes who can upload their songs/videos in YouTubes.
Works to be submitted must be produced in the year under review, May 31, 2013 to July 4, 2014. Format of submission and eligibility is available on WWW.Africa.Org.
Qualified entries will be selected by the Academy of AFRIMA which consists of the Jury and College of voters. Revealing further information about the makeup of the academy, AFRIMA Regional Director, Central Africa, Mr Ernest Ewane, said the jury consists of 13 people who have spent reasonable amount of years in the music industry and have vast knowledge in music who do not perform or produce songs anymore and people who are well respected in the industry across Africa and Diaspora. They are professionals with impeccable understanding of music.”
While the academy consists of 527 members to vote for the categories. In this process of selecting nominees and eventual winners of the coveted award trophy, AFRIMA is keen to uphold its FACE IT value which stands for fairness, accountability, creativity, excellence, integrity and transparency.
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’