AFRIMA Jury arrives Lagos, unveils nominees for 2017

The 13-man international Jury of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, which represents the five regions of Africa, the Diaspora and the African Union Commission announced nominees for 2017 edition of the continental awards ceremony.  The Jury arrived Lagos, on Tuesday August 1, 2017, for the week-long adjudication process for the awards' fourth edition.

Arriving at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the highly experienced music professional are as follows; Charles Tabu, a versatile Congolese music management guru, representing Central Africa alongside Cameroonian media executive Robert E. Ekukole. Southern Africa representatives include Delani Makhalima from Zimbabwe and Christian Syren from South Africa.

Others are Western Africa representatives David Tayorault, the Ivorian composer of many rave songs like ‘Coupe Decale', ‘Zouglou’ and ‘Yousomba’ and Olisa Adibua, a renowned Nigeria media and music industry personality. Tanzania's Joett, a 90’s music comeback buff, composer and member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers will sit in for Eastern Africa in addition to Tabu Osusa, CEO of Ketebul Music who is one of Kenya's music authorities.

Representing the Africans-in-Diaspora realm are Hadja Kobélé Keita, a US-based music executive with Universal Music Africa/Island Africa and Rita Ray, a UK-based BBC Radio 3 Presenter and popular Club DJ. Moroccan Omar Es Saidi is representing Northern Africa and Angela Martins, sits in for the African Union Commission, AUC.

Commenting on the adjudication process being embarked upon by the AFRIMA Jurors, Robert Ekukole stated “This is a crucial stage in the AFRIMA Awards process. The objective of adjudication is to access well-deserving artistes and music professionals for nominations in the regional and continental categories and eventually to emerge as winners through public voting”.

The adjudication process includes the responsibility of screening, categorizing, assessing and selecting nominees from the total of 4,816 works submitted for 2017 awards consideration from African music artistes, songwriters, music directors, producers and entertainment journalists at the closure of the two-month entry submission window in July this year.

Speaking at the arrival hall, AFRIMA’s Associate producer, Adenrele Niyi stated that “We can't over emphasis to the Jury that the core values of the awards with acronym FACE-IT, which are fairness, authenticity, creativity, excellence, integrity and transparency, must reflect in the adjudication process, pre-selection process, auditing phase, nomination process and the eventual public voting process”.

Africa’s biggest music event, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, with support from the African Union Commission (AUC), in its fourth edition is soaring high by showcasing the best and rewarding great musical and cultural efforts with the 23.9 karat gold plated AFRIMA trophy. The main awards events are scheduled to hold from November 9 to November 12, 2017 and broadcast to over 80 countries around the world.