At the close of submission of entries on August 20, 2021, West Africa dominated the list of entries submitted for the 2021 Edition of The African Union Commission (AUC) and The International Committee of All Africa Music Awards, (AFRIMA).
Of the record total 8, 880 entries received, West Africa led the pack with 30.4% followed by Eastern Africa with 28.8%, Southern Africa with 22.9%, Central Africa and North Africa and International acts had 12.3%, 4.9% and 0.7% respectively.
The Head of Communication and Partnership, AFRIMA, Zineb Seyad, expressed her joy at the encouraging number of entries received.
“We are encouraged by the number of entries received for the 2021 AFRIMA. Of the 8,880 entries submitted this year; West Africa leads the pack with 30.4% of the total entries followed by Eastern Africa with 28.8%, Southern Africa with 22.9%, Central Africa and North Africa and International acts have 12.3%, 4.9% and 0.7% respectively” she stated.
On her part, Head of Culture, African Union Commission, Angela Martins disclosed that the increased interest in the awards is a clear indication that AFRIMA is growing immensely.
“The increased interest in the awards is a clear indication that AFRIMA, a platform of bringing Africans together through the instrumentality of music and culture, is growing immensely across Africa and globally, which is a very important goal for us. Also, it is a signal that artists and actors in the music industry are becoming resilient in the face of global challenges” she said.
Now in its eighth year, AFRIMA, the ultimate recognition of African music globally honours African artistes, music producers, songwriters, video directors, Disc Jockeys, Choreographers/dancers, and movie/film producers living on the continent or in diaspora as well as International acts with the 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy.
In spite of the negative impact of COVID-19 on culture and creative industry; a record number of entries since the inception of the continental awards in 2014 is 8.86% higher than the 2019 edition.
This year’s entries were received from 50 African countries across the five regions of Africa and 10 countries from Europe and North America including Spain, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), France, Portugal, among others.