With 36 awards up for grabs in 36 categories, themed “Feel Africa” the best of African music was on display as the leading lights in the African music industry jostled for recognition at the 6th All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Babajide Okeowo reports.
The ambience was captivating, the setting electrifying and the excitement palpable you could slice through it with a knife. The week-long build-up to the main award ceremony on Saturday set the tone for what was to come.
Pre-Award Events
The week of the award ceremony was filled with activities that gave an insight into what was to come in the awards ceremony.
The Welcome Soiree on Wednesday, November 20 which took place all day long at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA gave everyone an inkling of what Saturday will look like as one after the other, artists from all over Africa converged in Lagos for the award ceremony.
The Agege Stadium played host to a musical concert and carnival-like experience for party-goers on Thursday, November 21, 2019. Several artistes thrilled party-goers to their favourite jams from 6.00 p.m. till dawn. You only needed an Afrima branded T-shirt and a sum of Two thousand Naira to be part of the experience tagged ‘Wild And Wow’.
It was time to talk the business side of music on Friday as the Grand Ballroom of Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos played host to the 6th Africa Music Business Summit (AMBS} while the evening of the same day was dedicated as the AFRIMA Nominees Party.
Saturday came with the anticipation in high gear as stakeholders in the entertainment industry converged at the Convention Center of the Eko Hotels for the awards proper. Elegantly dressed music lovers, artistes strutted the red carpet ahead of the show proper. Pearl Thusi and Eddie Kadi were both on hand to anchor the show.
Again, a promise for the creative industry
At the event, The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed reiterated the desire of the Federal Government to remove all impediments to the growth of the creative industry, as part of the ongoing efforts to encourage the sector’s growth.
N his words, “As we head into 2020, the successful commercialization of the creative industry is our number one priority. It will create jobs, reduce crime, be a major source of foreign exchange and thereby reduce our dependence on oil, rebrand our country internationally and boost our Gross Domestic Product, GDP. So, we in government are tackling all impediments to the industry thriving. We are making cheaper and longer-term financing available for the industry, especially for infrastructural projects, like concert halls across the six geo-political zones of the country, as recently announced by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,” he said.
The Burna Boy show
It has indeed been a great year for Burna Boy career-wise. Fresh from his blockbuster collaboration with international artiste Ed Sheeran and Stormzy, a chance to clinch a first grammy-awards for Nigeria, he capped it up by sweeping home the Best Male Artiste (West-Africa) and Artiste of the Year awards at the AFRIMA awards.
A night of thrilling performances
It was a night of thrilling performances from African superstars. Many will not forget in a hurry the performance of legendary superstars 2Baba, and Congolese music superstar, Awilo Logomba. Teni the entertainer also thrilled the audience with her energetic performance as she performed her latest track ‘Billionaire’. There were also performances from the likes of Nikita Kerring, Joeboy, Skibbi, Sauti Sol and Morrocan star, Yann’Sine.
African bests celebrated
The highlight of the event is definitely the presentation of awards to deserving African artistes.
2Baba carted home the Best African Artiste in African contemporary as well as a Special Recognition Award, along with Congolese superstar Awilo Logomba.
Nigerian sensation WizKid’s Fever – featuring Tiwa Savage, won the Song of the Year; while Tiwa Savage on her own won the Best Female Artiste (West-Africa).
Rave of the moment, Joeboy, went home with the Best Artiste in African Pop; DJ Spinall won the Best African DJ. Other winners included Kelvin Peter (Kel P), who won the Best Producer of the year, Liberian Kanve Adams (Songwriter of the Year), South African Nadia Nakai (Best Artiste in African Hip-Hop and the Best Female Artist in Southern Africa) and South African rapper, Nasty C, (Best African Collaboration and Best African Lyricist).
Moroccan Nada Azhari won Best Female Artist in Northern Africa while fellow Moroccan Amiinux won the Best Male Artiste (Northern Africa) and Best African Dance or Choreography. The Best Male Artist in Central Africa was won by Salatiel (Cameroon); the Best Female Artist in Central Africa went to Shan’L (Gabon). Sjava (South Africa) won the Best Male Artist in Southern Africa; Kenyan group, Sauti Sol, won the Album of the Year and Best African Duo, group or band.
Other 2019 AFRIMA winners are African Fans’ Favourite, Mafia – Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt); Best African Act in the Diaspora/Best African Artist, Duo or Group in African Electro, ‘Akouna’ ft. Afrotronix & Vox Sambou – Manno Beats (Chad); and Best African Collaboration – ‘SMA’ ft. Rowlene – Nasty C (South Africa).
The rest are Best Artist, Duo in Group in African Jazz, African Time – Owen & Tiana (Gabon); Best Artist, Duo or Group in African Reggae, Ragga or Dancehall, Tuff Seed – Stonebwoy (Ghana) and Best Artist, Duo or Group in African R&B & Soul, ‘TV Room’ ft. Garry Mapanzure – Hillzy (Zimbabwe).
History was made
History was also made during the event as a 17- year old Kenyan,
Nikita Kerring, went home with two awards (Best Female in Eastern Africa and Revelation of the African Continent). She immediately took to Instagram to celebrate her feat as youngest AFRIMA winner.
“We did it!! Youngest ever AFRIMA nominee and now the winner of; Best female in Eastern Africa and Revelation of the African continent. Thank you so much to all that took their time to vote” she wrote.
As music lovers and entertainer alike exited the convention centre venue of this year’s award, all eyes are certainly looking forward to the next edition.
