The stakeholders’ conference of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which was held on Friday, July 10, 2015, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, The Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa, was not without fanfare.
At the event, one of the son of the soil, Mkhululi Siqula, an artiste best known as ‘Heavy-k DRUMBOSS’, got the AFRIMA trophy he won in Lagos, Nigeria in the ‘Best Male in Southern Africa’ category.
He echoed his in an exciting tone while receiving the award, “At my age, winning and carrying this (AFRIMA) trophy, is overwhelming, I am very excited right now. I just thank AFRIMA and fans across Africa, it means a lot to me. I regretted for not being at the last edition but I will be there at the AFRIMA 2015 edition in November 13 – 15, 2015 in Lagos.”
The conference featured panelists from Southern Africa region; Artiste, Malaika’s Tshedi Mholo (South Africa); AFRIMA Sponsorship and Communication Director, Matlou Tsotsetsi (South Africa); AFRIMA Jury members from Southern Africa, Delani Makhalima (Zimbabwe); Assistant Communication Manager, ONE campaign, Yannick Tshimanga (South Africa).
Panelist from AFRIMA secretariat were Chairman, AFRIMA International Media Committee, Steve Ayorinde (Nigeria); AFRIMA Executive Producer/President, Mike Dada among others from the AFRIMA secretariat.
The conference which brought together artistes from Southern Africa, the media, AFRIMA partners and other music industry stakeholders was centred on the vision, mission and transparent adjudication process towards the 2015 edition of the ceremony.
Also receiving an award at the conference was Collin Mokgaotsi, the label manager of Mi Casa on behalf of the group (trio of Dr. Duda, J’Something and Mo-T) for 2014 ‘Best African Electro’ category for track ‘Jika’,
Mholo, speaking at the occasion said, “I am happy to be on AFRIMA panel. I have seen awards across Africa but AFRIMA is more than an award. It is a platform to sell our story, our uniqueness, and our culture as an Africa to the rest of the world.
“The conference today has definitely enriched my knowledge that we (Artiste) are in business to sell Africa through our songs, our dressings, and our life style which is in line with the vision and objectives of AFRIMA aimed at showcasing Africa as a center of possibilities, development, peaceful and prosperous continent.”
AFRIMA was conceptualized to celebrate, showcase, reward and promote the rich African music worldwide, thus reaching out to the millions of fans, and propelling African music to glorious pinnacles beyond the borders of Africa.
The ceremony would be broadcast to over 84 countries across the world on 109 television stations in November where the 23.9 Karat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy would be given to winners.
Entry submission is expected to end on Monday, July 20, 2015.
