AFRIMA UNVEILS NIGERIAN RAPPER FALZ, ACTRESS LILIANE MAROUNE AS HOSTS OF 9TH EDITION IN LAGOS
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By: Sefiu Ajape
The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has officially announced Nigerian rapper and actor, FalzTheBahdGuy, alongside French-Senegalese actress and media personality, Liliane Maroune, as hosts of the ninth edition of the prestigious awards.
The ninth AFRIMA, organised by the International Executive Committee of AFRIMA in conjunction with the African Union Commission and in partnership with the Lagos State Government as the official host city, is scheduled to take place from January 7 to 11 next year in Lagos, Nigeria.
With this appointment, FalzTheBahdGuy becomes the second Nigerian to host the AFRIMA stage, following music icon 2Baba, who co-hosted the inaugural edition of the awards in 2014.
Over the years, AFRIMA has featured notable hosts from across Africa and the diaspora. These include 2Baba (Nigeria) and Maryse Acotie (Togo) at the 2014 inaugural edition; DNG (Kenya) and Aurélie Eliam (Cote d’Ivoire) in 2015; Ahmed Soultan (Morocco), Bonang Matheba (South Africa), and Ika De Jong (DRC) in 2016; Akon (Senegal/U.S.A.) and Sophy Aiida (Cameroon) in 2017; Michael Blackson (Ghana/U.S.A.), Pearl Thusi (South Africa), and Anita Erskine (Ghana) in 2018; Pearl Thusi and Eddie Kadi (DRC/UK) in 2019 and 2021; as well as Ahmed Sylla (France/Senegal), Sophy Aiida, and Pearl Thusi at the eighth edition held in January 2023.
FalzTheBahdGuy, a multiple award-winning artiste, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential figures in music and film. He is known for his thought-provoking lyrics, commanding stage presence, and strong social commentary. Beyond music, he has built a successful acting career, earning acclaim for his roles in films such as New Money, Brotherhood, 10 Days in Sun City, and Chief Daddy.
Liliane Maroune, a French-Senegalese actress, model, and television host, brings elegance, international appeal, and a strong African identity to the AFRIMA stage. Of Lebanese and Mauritanian descent, Maroune is well known for her roles in West African television series, including Emprises, where she played Myriam, and Coeurs Brisés, in which she portrayed Aissatou. She also hosts the talk show “Wakhtane Ak Lily,” where she interviews leading African creatives. Her growing influence across Africa and Europe makes her a fitting co-host for the awards.
Commenting on the selection of the hosts, AFRIMA Regional Director for Central Africa, Nde Ndifonka, said, “FalzTheBahdGuy brings intelligence, strong ideas, and a powerful African voice that connects with both young and old audiences. Liliane embodies elegance, diversity, and the contemporary African woman with international influence. Together, they clearly show the strength and richness of African music and culture. They both understand Africa, speak for Africa, and live the African experience in their own ways.”
Ahead of the event, excitement continues to build as music fans worldwide are still voting for their favourite artistes across 39 award categories on the AFRIMA website.
The five-day celebration will begin with a Welcome Soirée for guests and nominees at the British Deputy High Commission House in Lagos on Wednesday, January 7. This will be followed by the Africa Music Business Summit on Thursday, January 8, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites.
On Friday, January 9, music enthusiasts are expected to gather at Ikeja City Mall, Alausa, Lagos, for the AFRIMA Music Village. The programme will continue with a Nominees and Industry Party on Saturday, January 10, before culminating in the Main Awards Show on Sunday, January 11, at the Eko Convention Centre.
The Red Carpet event will commence at 3 p.m. (WAT), while the awards ceremony will be broadcast live to audiences in more than 84 countries worldwide.
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