By Daniel Chigundu
ZIMBABWE is set to host the 5th edition of the prestigious All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) pre-concert during the Harare International Carnival which is set for the 20th of October this year.
The AFRIMA music concert which is a precursor to the music awards is an African Union event.
According to Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive Dr Karikoga Kaseke, Zimbabwe is only hosting the pre-awards music concert as it had no resources to host the awards which are broadcast across 84 countries in the world.
“This year there is what we call ‘Turn Up Africa’ and it’s an event that is held before the awards and the awards are going to be held in Ghana because Zimbabwe did not have resources to hold the awards.
“But we said we can hold the ‘Turn Up Africa’ which is the event which they hold before the awards and I think they will bring in 15 to 20 artists from Africa.
“We really need to organise that concert so that every artist who comes will have an opportunity to perform, but not every artist from Africa is popular in Zimbabwe so we have to include local artists as well on the lineup,” he said
The awards activities are scheduled to be held between 21st to the 24th of November in Accra, following the government of Ghana’s acceptance of the hosting rights.
According to AFRIMA president and executive producer Mike Dada, the event seeks to communicate Africa’s beauty and glamour.
“We use the power of superstars to communicate the beauty, glamour and positive side of the Africa continent to the rest of the world.
“AFRIMA not only provides opportunities to the nominees but the host country as well, in showcasing the unique artistic, tourism and economic potentials of her culturally dynamic and beautiful cities,” he said.
AFRIMA–Ghana 2018 will have main awards program spanning four days of exhilarating activities which are: AFRIMA Welcome Soiree; Africa Music Business Summit; AFRIMA Music Village; Media Interviews/Meet & Greet; and a tour of the notable sites and landmarks in Ghana.
