It was an unforgettable moments on May 13 and14, as the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia buzzed, playing host to African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Committee of the All-Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) two-day music conference to unveil the AFRIMA 2025 calendar and reveal the host city of this year’s edition of the prestigious awards. 

  Indeed a pure artistic excellence and full-blown celebration of African culture and global vibes, the event brought together global music industry leaders and top African music icons including pop legend and the all-time classic, African Queen hitmater, Innocent Ujah Idibia well known as 2face Idibia, now 2baba, alongside other notable names such as South African superstar, Makhadzi; Kenya music sensation, Nikita Kering; Ugandan multiple-award winner and music executive, Eddy Kenzo.

   Others are international pop star and AFRIMA 2018 Best Artiste in Reggae/Ragga from Ghana, Stonebwoy; Founder and CEO of Bana Records, Ethiopia, Bien Mekonnen; AFRIMA’s Regional Director and CEO of Yekwatu, Mike Strano; and Leo Fakhrul, the Founder and Managing Director, Mamba Sounds, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

   At the end of the conference which has as its theme: Music Beyond Borders, the vibrant city of Lagos was announced as the host city for the AFRIMA 2025 by the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the International Committee of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

   The well-attended event featured two explosive panel sessions with conversations centered on the future of African music in the world and the continent’s evolving creative economy, exploring topics like music industry policies, international collaborations, and strategies to boost Africa’s creative sector with focus on monetization, skill acquisition and knowledge sharing, intellectual property regimes, royalty and collecting society, leveraging intersection between technology — AI, IOT— and media. 

   It also saw the revelation of the much-awaited AFRIMA 2025 Calendar, detailing the events, key dates, and milestones that will lead up to the grand finale which will take place from November 25 to 30 in Lagos, Nigeria.

   Given the host right, Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial and entertainment hub city is set to shine bright once again, playing host to leading and budding African music superstars, creative industry professionals, members of the diplomatic corps, international media and fans of African music from around the world to a spectacular celebration of African music and culture, from November 25 to 30.

   It will kick off in Morocco, and then continue to Tanzania, Paris, Cote d’Ivoire, and London. The tour will return to Nigeria in Delta State before culminating in Namibia from October 31 to November 1.   

   The adjudication process will be held from August 12–19; the world media conference announcing the 2025 nominees is scheduled for August 27, while voting by the public will open on September 5 and close on November 28. The entry submission for this year’s awards will officially open on Tuesday, May 27 and close on Friday, August 8.

   Artistes, producers, songwriters, and other music professionals from across the continent and diaspora are encouraged to submit their works via the AFRIMA digital portal.www.afrima.org.