The African Union Commission, AUC, and the International
Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, has bestowed the special
award of Supporter of the Arts on His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State,
Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at the recently concluded 5th AFRIMA, the annual music
awards held in Accra, Ghana, on Saturday, November 24, 2018.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was honoured for his contributions
and support towards the growth of arts and culture in Africa. Mrs. Amira
Elfadil, Commissioner for Social Affairs, AUC, in her letter to the Executive
Governor of Lagos State, she noted “this recognition is in accordance to the
pivotal role the Government of Lagos State played as the Official Host City of
AFRIMA awards in 2016 and 2017 which impacted on the overall AFRIMA objectives
of using the awards platform to unify the African continent, while celebrating
its music and cultural uniqueness”.
Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission;
Mrs. Amira Elfadil, presenting the award to Honourable Commissioner for
Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Lagos State; Steve Ayorinde, who received it on
behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
The Lagos State government, under the leadership of Governor
Ambode has demonstrated an undeniable commitment to the music and entertainment
sector of Nigeria, paving way for the growth and recognition of indigenous
talents, promoting the heritage and culture of the people of Lagos state, while
expanding the business of arts and tourism in the state.
Representative of the Governor, Honourable Commissioner for
Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Lagos State; Steve Ayorinde, who received the award
on the governor’s behalf congratulated AFRIMA, AUC, and the government of the
Republic of Ghana, “I am pleased to be receiving this special recognition on
behalf of the Art loving governor of Lagos State who sent his apologies for not
being able to make it tonight, but also sent his warm courtesies, because to
him Ghana is also home. We have a saying in Lagos, we say ‘One Lagos’, and he
knows that in Ghana too, it is One Ghana”. The Commissioner also noted that
nothing has brought Africans closer, bigger than what AFRIMA is doing, and
pleased that AFRIMA has moved to a sister city after four great editions in
Lagos, and he looks forward to the next editions which he believes will be hosted
in Ghana.
The special recognition is a unanimous agreement by the AUC,
International Committee of AFRIMA and the esteemed 13-man AFRIMA Jury- made up
of African music, media and culture experts from the five regions of Africa (2
representatives each); one from Europe and North America respectively
(representing the diaspora) and a representative from AUC to recognize
individuals who have contributed to the creative economy of Africa.
Pic 4- Steve Ayorinde 2
Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture,
Lagos State; Steve Ayorinde on AFRIMA stage after receiving the award on behalf
of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
The awards night also saw honours going out to other
recipients of the AFRIMA special recognition awards. Other honorary awardees
include internationally recognised South African singer, Yvonne Chaka Chaka,
who received the 5th AFRIMA Legend Award, and Ghana’s music veteran, Teddy
Osei, founder of the famous Osibisa group, an Afropop band created in 1969.
Similarly, winners also emerged from the popularised 36 awards categories
(regional and continental), where music artiste had to battle it out in each
genre to emerge winner of the 23.9k gold-plated AFRIMA trophy. Full list on
official AFRIMA website
AFRIMA, in partnership with African Union, is a music
property that recognises and rewards the work and talent of myriad of African
artists from the old to the new generation of musicians. AFRIMA also stimulates
conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the world about
the potential of the creative arts for real humanising enterprise on the
continent contributing significantly to social cohesion, national, regional and
continental integration as well as sustainable development in Africa.
Tayo Adesokan, Ms.
Media Officer
www.afrima.org
Social Media: @Afrimawards
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