Multi--award winning African-American music star, Akon, has
been unveiled as host of the 4th annual All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)
scheduled to hold on Sunday, November 12, 2017 at the Eko Convention
Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
According to a statement by the African Union Commission and
the International Committee of AFRIMA made available to the media on Tuesday,
October 31, the Senegal-born superstar will handle the event proceedings of the
live broadcast award show scheduled to air live on over 80 television stations
and online platforms across the world with support from the co-host, Ms. Sophy
Aiida, a Cameroonian-French entertainment broadcaster.
With a track record of outstanding success in the global
music industry that has brought immense recognition to Africa’s creative energy
and originality, Akon, a multi-Grammy award winning singer, songwriter, record
producer and actor, has put his name in the Guinness Book of World Record as
the number one selling artiste for master ringtones in the world.
Ranked the fifth most powerful celebrity in Forbes’s Africa
list of 40, Akon is also a business man and philanthropist who is passionate
about the African continent. He provides electricity for 15 African countries
through his “Light Africa Project” and supports underprivileged African
youngsters through his Konfidence Initiative. He runs music labels, Konvict
Music and Kon Live Republic successfully.
Co-host Sophy Aiida is a prolific broadcaster who is known
on radio as Cameroon’s biggest-girl-next-door. Sophy was born in Paris, moved
to New York where she spent 15 years before returning to Cameroon to contribute
to her homeland. The multilingual and multi-talented woman is regarded as one
of Central Africa’s biggest show host. Sophy has also acted in rave African
French-speaking movies and has also dropped a debut single. Sophy Aiida
is the co-founder of the Nakande Project, an initiative that supports the
emergence of great young women through its education, empowerment and
mentorship programmes. She has hosted various annuals show and events in
Africa.
Meanwhile, Africans on the continent and in the diaspora are
in eager anticipation for the AFRIMA 2017 main awards ceremony and the AFRIMA
Music Village scheduled to hold on Friday, November 10. The Music Village
is an evening of non-stop open music festival of live performances from African
stars and nominees, with an audience of 40,000 people. It will also be
broadcast live and produced by a prominent experiential marketing/production
agency in Africa, Backstage Pro.
The annual All Africa Music Awards in partnership with the
African Union Commission, is a celebration of Africa by rewarding the
creativity and originality of African artistes and songwriters with the
resplendent 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy. The 2017 Main Awards
Ceremony, in association with Lagos State of Nigeria, the Official Host City,
will be a colourful, performance-packed event graced by music stars, industry
legends, captains of industries, diplomats, government officials, music lovers
across the continent. The event will be broadcast live across 84 countries in
Africa.
Also lined up for the weekend of AFRIMA 2017 is Africa Music Business Roundtable in Association with TRACE with the theme, Digital Takeover: Shaping the Future of African Music (November 10). AMBR is a platform created by AFRIMA for engagement on music, money, media and evolving global business practices as they affect the creative industries in Africa.
0 Comments