Côte d’Ivoire has formally expressed its desire to host a future edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), with Abidjan being proposed as a suitable destination for the prestigious continental event.
The declaration was made during the Road to the 10th AFRIMA media and stakeholders’ engagement held in Abidjan, which gathered government officials, key players in the music industry, artistes, and members of the media to deliberate on the awards’ influence and long-term prospects.
Addressing participants, Serge Akpatou, deputy director-general of the Ivorian Bureau of Copyright (BURIDA), emphasised AFRIMA’s contribution to advancing Africa’s creative industry, particularly in spotlighting artistes and promoting awareness of intellectual property protection. He also voiced optimism about his country’s hosting potential.
“Abidjan has the capacity and cultural depth to host a future edition, and we sincerely hope that opportunity will come,” he said.
Also speaking, Hein Sie, who represented the minister of culture and Francophone affairs, described the awards as an effective platform for cultural diplomacy and economic development.
“Côte d’Ivoire is proud of its artistes who have excelled on a platform like AFRIMA, and we are ready to support initiatives that position our country as a creative force,” he said.
Some of the Ivorian artistes present at the event included Didi B, Milo, Morijah, and Team Paiya, all winners from the 9th edition. They were joined by Benin’s Axel Merryl and Algeria’s DJ Moh Green.
Representatives of the AFRIMA international executive committee, including associate producer Victoria Nkong and international jury member Messie Mboukou, also attended the parley.
Speaking on behalf of AFRIMA, Mboukou explained that the engagement was designed to deepen collaboration with Francophone Africa ahead of the milestone 10th edition. He further stressed the transparency of the awards’ adjudication process.
“This gathering is not only about celebration. It is about dialogue, transparency and building stronger bridges between artistes, the media, cultural institutions, policy makers and AFRIMA,” he said.
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“As we approach the 10th edition, continuous collaboration with Francophone Africa is vital for us not be left out in the AFRIMA movement.
“The adjudication process is thorough and structured. It is supervised by the African Union and independently audited by a globally reputable auditing firm. After nominations are decided by the 13-man AFRIMA Jury, the AFRIMA Academy of voters and public vote, and the final results are exclusively collated independently by the professional auditors. No one can manipulate the outcome.”
The 9th edition of AFRIMA was held in Lagos on January 11, while the host nation for the upcoming 10th edition is yet to be announced.