Entertainment
AFRIMA Organisers Receive 2,558 Entries …As Nigeria Tops List
Olamide
The International Commit
tee for the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) said in Lagos last Thursday that it had received 2, 558 entries for the 2015 edition.
According to the organisers, the entries by African artistes were received on the AFRIMA website and social media platforms as well as from record companies and entertainment journalists.
Also submitted were works from artistes in the Diaspora.
All the works to be considered must have been produced between May 31, 2014 and July 31, 2015 according to the stipulated guidelines by the academy of the jury of AFRIMA.
Mr Steve Ayorinde, Chairman, International Media Committee of AFRIMA, said the development had shown the importance that had now been attached to the programme.
“The international committee is excited about the quality of entries received this year as many are from accomplished artistes in African music.
“The impressive number of entries received is a reflection of growth and acceptability of the vision and ideals of AFRIMA’s commitment to communicate Africa to the rest of the world via art, music, tourism and entertainment.’’
Ayorinde said the entries received this year were progressively higher than the 2,025 entries received for the 2014 edition.
Out of the entries received this year, 73 were from music and entertainment journalists across Africa, while entries were from artistes, songwriters, video directors, music producers and record companies made up the rest.
As part of the adjudication process which will last for seven days, the submitted works will be screened by a 13-man jury panel, representing the five regions of Africa and the Diaspora.
There will be representatives from Kenya, Senegal, Republic of Benin, Uganda, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon, the U.K. and U.S. as well as a representative from the African Union.
Following the adjudication process, a nomination list will be released to the public on a later date in August 2015, to vote for a nominee in each of the 33 categories of the award.
The founder of the awards, Mr Mike Dada, also revealed that this year’s event would hold on November 15 in Nigeria.
He added that it would be preceded by the AFRIMA Music Village, a two-day event of music festivities featuring national pavilions, cultural/entertainment exhibitions and music concerts between November 13 and November14.
There will also be an Africa Music Summit on November 13 with the theme “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa’’.
Our Entertainment Desk reports that this is the second edition of AFRIMA.
This year’s edition of the awards is in partnership with African Union Commission (AUC), ONE Campaign and Africa 2.0.
Meanwhile, Nigerian artistes topped the list of the 2nd edition of the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) scheduled for Dallas in October.
According to statement from the organisers the Award, which would hold at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters was to celebrate the beauty of African music and artistry.
The statement noted that “the show will honour some of Africa’s top music artistes, producers and cultural influencers.’’
It stated that the Best Male West Africa category had the highest number of Nigerian nominees, including Davido, Wizkid, Flavour and Olamide.
AFRIMMA, also the Crossing Boundaries With Music Award, had the highest number of Nigerians, including Wale, Nneka, Asa, Jidenna and Tinnie Tempah.
Nigeria’s P-square was also nominated for the Best African Group.
Also, the Best Newcomer category was topped by Nigerian artistes Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello and Lil Kesh.
The Best Collaboration category was flooding with nominee collaborations with various Nigerian artistes such as Kcee, J Martins, Burna Boy, among others.
Similarly, Nigeria’s DJ Jimmy Jatt and DJ Exclusive were nominated for the Best DJ Africa award.
For the AFRIMMA Video of the Year, Ojuelegba by Wizkid, Golibe by Flavour and My Darling by Tiwa Savage were nominated.
Mavin Records CEO, Don Jazzy, was nominated for the Music Producer of the Year, alongside Shizzi.
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.’