Nigeria, March 29, 2016 – Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has pledged his unflinching support for organisers of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) for unifying Africa through music.
Obasanjo made the remarks when the AUC and the International Committee of AFRIMA paid a courtesy visit to the former president at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Obasanjo commended AFRIMA and AUC for unifying Africa through music.
He said music was part of African culture and reiterated the need for music and culture to be commercialised in order to create jobs and reduce poverty among African youths.
He implored AFRIMA and AUC not to relent in achieving their objectives and called on brands and governments in Africa to partner with AFRIMA.
He recalled similar projects he was involved with as president, such as the All Africa Games (COJA 2003) and Festival of Art and Culture in Africa (FESTAC ’77) as platforms for promoting African culture and unity which required huge resources to organise.
He thanked AFRIMA for honouring him with their visit. In his opening remark, the President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mike Dada said, the meeting and visit was in recognition of the former president as the former Chairperson of the African Union (AU) between July 2004 to January 2006.
According to him, “Chief Obasanjo is an African global icon, a cultural enthusiast and champion of African renaissance.”
He intimated the former president with the objectives of the All African Music Awards, AFRIMA which is mainly to unite Africans through the instrumentality of art, music, culture and entertainment as well as promote and reward upcoming and established talents on the continent.
“AFRIMA remains steadfast to the AUC’s values of promoting African unity and celebrating cultural uniqueness, we thereby thank you sir for receiving the AFRIMA team at your residence and we would specially like to invite you to the 2016 AFRIMA scheduled to hold in November.”
A giant photo frame for his 79th birthday and Djembe drum were presented to the former president by the AFRIMA Director of Sponsorship and Communications, Matlou Tsotsesi with the support of the AFRIMA 2015 winner of Best RnB & Soul in Africa, Praiz and Communication Manager, ONE Campaign Africa, Nde Nfodinka (Wax Dey).
The 30-man AFRIMA team that comprised AFRIMA Associate Co-Producer, Efe Omorogbe, AFRIMA jury Member, Laolu Akins, AFRIMA Media Committee member and Biodun Kupoluyi, AFRIMA Production Manager, Henry Alade, Entertainment Editor of The Sun Newspaper, Tosin Ajirire among others.
In partnership with the African Union Commission, AUC, The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, is a music property developed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical culture of Africa, stimulate conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the globe about the great potentials and values of the African culture and artistic heritage for the purpose of creating jobs and reducing poverty.
For the 2016 edition of the continental awards tagged AFRIMA 3.0, The AFRIMA 2016 calendar will be formally unveiled in May by the African Union Commission (AUC) and International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the African Union Youth Charter.
