1,216 ARTISTES, DELEGATES, PRODUCTION CREW STORM LAGOS FOR 9TH AFRIMA (PHOTOS)
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By: Sefiu Ajape
Lagos is buzzing once again as 1,216 artistes, delegates, and production crew arrive for the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), setting the stage for a star-studded week of African music and culture.
The star-studded influx was revealed on Wednesday, at the Welcome Soirée for nominees and special guests, hosted at the Residence of the British Deputy High Commissioner, officially ushering in the excitement of AFRIMA Week.
Addressing guests at the event, AFRIMA President and Executive Producer, Mike Dada, said the massive turnout highlights the ever-growing global appeal of African music and AFRIMA’s impact, in partnership with the African Union Commission, in boosting the continent’s creative and entertainment economy.
He said, “This year’s AFRIMA has once again demonstrated the immense power and global pull of African music. As we speak, a total of 1,216 artistes, delegates, and members of our production team have arrived in Lagos. This number includes 732 artistes and managers, 301 delegates from across Africa and the diaspora, and 183 technical production professionals working tirelessly behind the scenes. You can imagine how that number can impact our economy, how much benefit Lagos’ tourism capacity demonstrates. It is huge for us and we are happy to work with the Lagos State Government and other partners to bring this benefit to our economy and our city.”
Dada noted that AFRIMA recognizes music as a powerful force for good that drives integration and inclusion, promotes peace across Africa and beyond, and fuels economic growth within the creative industry.
He said, “First, music is a powerful tool for integration and inclusion. Second, it is a catalyst for peace, both across our continent and globally. And of course, music is a driver of economic growth within the creative industry.
“For us, AFRIMA is about connecting people. We do not see colour. What we see is talent, whether you are white, black, blue, or green. What matters to us is the humanity that exists in all of us. That shared humanity is what has informed our partnerships and our purpose,” he added.
The AFRIMA president expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government and partners, including First Bank, Guinness, Glenfiddich and the Swedish Government, while also thanking the UK Government for hosting the event, saying, “We do not take this partnership for granted.”
Also speaking, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, commended the strong cultural and creative ties between the UK, Nigeria and Africa, noting the rising global success of African artistes.
He said African music, particularly Afrobeats, is “now dominating the charts in the UK and across the globe,” adding that “It is extremely important for us that we continue to build our connection to music and other creative industries. The UK is committed to partnerships that bring mutual economic development.”
On her part, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, described Lagos as Africa’s cultural capital, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to supporting creatives.
She said, “Lagos is Africa’s cultural capital, a city where creativity lives loudly, where ideas scale rapidly, and where talent finds opportunity. Through the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, we remain unwavering in our commitment to building an enabling ecosystem where creatives can thrive, collaborate, and compete successfully on the world stage.”
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