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The federal and Lagos state governments are fine-tuning arrangements to host this year’s All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in Lagos From November 25 to 30.
According to the organisers, this year’s gathering is being celebrated as a bold affirmation of Africa’s unity, identity and cultural power on the global stage.
This vision was eloquently captured at the AFRIMA Patron’s Dinner in Lagos at the weekend, hosted by Dr. Bisi Onasanya, Chairman of The Address Homes, where the International Jury of AFRIMA was honoured for their painstaking work of reviewing over 10,717 entries from across the continent and diaspora.
For more than a week, jurors drawn from 14 countries deliberated to select the best of Africa’s music talent.
Speaking about the event, Nigeria’s Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, said AFRIMA is more than a music awards ceremony but a proof that African creativity commands respect worldwide.
“AFRIMA is a testimony of how the creative sector in Nigeria has developed to a global standard, even without strong government backup.
“We are proud of what AFRIMA stands for and the impact it has made in Africa and on a global scale, projecting our identity, culture, language, and music. As a government, we will continue to support initiatives like this not just because it celebrates art but because it strengthens the economy and unites us”, she said.
Also speaking, the Lagos state Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, designated as the Official Host City, said the state is fully primed to welcome the world.
“For us in Lagos, hosting AFRIMA 2025 is not just another event; it is a big honour.
“People say we are the culture and entertainment capital of Africa, and we are ready to welcome the whole continent and the world to our city for this great event. We thank the federal government, our partners, and all those supporting AFRIMA for trusting Lagos to host again”, she said.
For AFRIMA Patron, Dr. Onasanya, the mission is to build a sustainable legacy.
“Tonight, we proudly recognise the incredible work of our jury members and say a big thank you to them…”
Africa and the rest of the world will see an amazing show in Lagos because we are confident of organising a successful event,” he assured. “The last edition was fantastic, but I assure you that AFRIMA 2025 will be the best”, he added.
That optimism was amplified by Ivorian juror, Guy Neza, who represents West Africa on the panel.
“Africa is full of amazing talent, and it makes me happy to see our music and creativity receiving the recognition they deserve. “Every artist who sends in their work is helping our creative industry grow stronger. With the quality of music we have screened, I can confidently say that the future of the industry is promising”, he noted.
AFRIMA Founder and President, Mike Dada, credited the unity of governments, artists, and industry stakeholders for sustaining the awards’ integrity.
“We said at the beginning of this journey that we would not joke with the credibility of these awards. “Any artist who will be nominated or win must submit their work to qualify, and this patron’s dinner is our way of honouring the AFRIMA jury, who dedicate their time to carefully select the finest talents”, he stated.
The event will be broadcast live to audiences in more than 84 countries.
