AFRIMA 2018: African Union, Ghana partner over calendar unveiling

Part of the agenda for the Calendar Unveiling of the fifth annual edition of AFRIMA is a Courtesy Visit of the President of Ghana.

The president is set to receive African delegates and music stars attending the event from around Africa including the Head of Culture, African Union, Mrs Angela Martins; President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada; Director, Brand Communications, AFRIMA; Ms Matlou Tsotetsi; AFRIMA Regional Director; Western Africa, Mr. Don Obilor, the Ghanaian-UK AFRIMA Juror, (representing UK-Diaspora) and BBC-1 show host, Ms Rita Ray and the AFRIMA Country Director, Ghana, Mr Francis Doku.

Also participating at the event are past AFRIMA nominees and winners, music professionals and executives, creative/culture industry policymakers, members of the media industry and other award-winning recording artists living in Ghana and in other African countries.

Commenting on the event in line with government’s objective to develop sustainable tourism pivoted on Ghanaian arts and culture, Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Catherine Afeku said: “Arts and culture, as a sector, remains one of Africa’s greatest strengths. As well as being a source of values, identity and a sense of belonging, the creative industries have become a driver of economic growth and job creation.

“In agreeing to host the AFRIMA 2018 Calendar Unveiling, the Government of Ghana is motivated by the need to harness the potential of the creative sector of Ghana to promote national and regional tourism. We congratulate the African Union for lending its weight behind this laudable effort”.

Hon. Afeku added, “The Government of Ghana recognizes the potential of the Creative Industries to shape and reinforce the country’s economic growth. Studies show that by the end of the first decade of this millennium, cultural activities contributed to 1.53% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of our country. Zeroing in on the music industry, it is reported with some justifiable pride that that sector alone adds approximately GH¢100 million to GDP”.

Speaking on the collaborative work by the African Union and the International Committee of AFRIMA to create inventive solutions to achieving the AU Charter for African Cultural Renaissance and the Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries, the Acting Director for Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Madam Mariama Cisse revealed that partnerships with member AU states such as Ghana further galvanise the achievement of the AU policy on Africa transformation through social integration.

In her statement, the Acting Director for Social Affairs, African Union, said: “The hosting by the Republic of Ghana of this unveiling event is very important given that previous events were hosted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and it is crucial that the initiative rotates in the AU Member States to ensure broader popularization and enhance its Pan-African nature. We thus express our gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Ghana for hosting the event and call upon all musical artists to participate in the initiative by submitting their works once the call for submissions is open”.

AFRIMA, Africa’s biggest music awards property, will roll out the 2018 calendar under the theme “Africa is Music”. The calendar features back-to-back events traversing several countries in the five regions of Africa.