The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) was established in 2014 by the International Committee AFRIMA in collaboration with the African Union (AU) with the aim of rewarding and celebrating the musical works, talents, and creativity from across the African continent while promoting African cultural heritage. The inaugural AFRIMA awards took place in Nigeria, a country that would host the prestigious event for three consecutive years from 2014 to 2016. Nigeria was once again awarded the hosting rights in 2017, continuing its role as a key player in AFRIMA’s early history.
In 2018, the Republic of Ghana was granted the rights to host AFRIMA for four consecutive years. However, in July 2019, the International Committee withdrew Ghana’s hosting rights for the 2019 and 2020 editions due to the host country’s inability to meet the financial and contractual obligations. The year 2020 also saw the event being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a significant interruption in AFRIMA’s annual celebrations. Nevertheless, AFRIMA made a strong comeback in 2021, hosted once again in Lagos, Nigeria, reaffirming its commitment to celebrating African music and culture.
Throughout its journey, AFRIMA has continued to grow and adapt, expanding its influence and reach across the continent. It stands as a symbol of unity and celebration, bringing together artists and fans from diverse backgrounds to honor the rich musical heritage of Africa.