About Us - AFRIMA

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The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) is the continent’s most prestigious event dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the immense talent and diversity of African music. Established to honor the rich musical heritage of Africa, AFRIMA stands as a beacon of pride for Africa, demonstrating the power of music to unite, inspire, and drive positive change.

For Hope, For Celebration

The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) was established in 2014 by the International Executive Committee (IEC) in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) with the aim of rewarding and celebrating the musical works, talents, and creativity from across the African continent while promoting African cultural heritage.

This collaboration supports the implementation of key African Union policy frameworks, including Agenda 2063, the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance and the Revised AU Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries.

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, which the nation did successfully. However, the 2019 edition returned to Nigeria and shortly after which the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. The year 2020 saw the event being canceled due to COVID-19, marking a significant interruption in AFRIMA’s annual celebrations. AFRIMA made a strong comeback in 2021, hosted once again in Lagos, Nigeria. In 2023, the 8th edition was hosted by President Macky Sall of Senegal in Dakar, showcasing the country’s vibrant support for African music and further solidifying AFRIMA’s reputation as a unifying platform for the continent’s creative arts, reaffirming its commitment to celebrating African music and culture.

The 9th edition, held from January 7 to 11, 2026 returned to Lagos, Nigeria in partnership with the Lagos State Government (Official Host City), for six days of celebration, dialogue, and recognition of African creative excellence. The forthcoming 10th Edition of what has come to be known as Africa’s global music awards will be a defining milestone, celebrating a decade of achievement while laying a strategic foundation for AFRIMA’s next era of continental leadership and global relevance.

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

Vision, Mission, Values

Vision

To be the premier platform celebrating and promoting the diverse richness of African music
and culture globally, uniting artists and fans through a shared appreciation of the
continent’s vibrant musical heritage.

Mission

To honor and promote African musical talent by recognizing excellence in performance, creativity, and innovation. We aim to elevate the global presence of African music, support emerging artists, and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of our continent.

To create sustainable growth of the African music industry as a contributor to national and continental economies

To promote and showcase African artistes and their music to the largely untapped African population in Africa and to a global audience as well promote African cities and tourism

values

FACE IT is an acronym coined by the International Committee of AFRIMA. It represents the core values of the All Africa Music Awards which are: Fairness, Authenticity, Creativity, Excellence, Integrity and Transparency.

The AFRIMA Mantra: “FOR HOPE, FOR CELEBRATION” revolves round the universal power of music as a tool of hope and unity in the African continent despite the challenges it faces.