Obasanjo pledges support for AFRIMA 3.0

As part of the activities to the build-up for the 2016 edition of All 
Africa Music Awards  (AFRIMA), African Union Commission (AUC) and The 
International Committee of AFRIMA paid a courtesy visit to the former 
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, 
GCFR, on Friday March 26, 2016 at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, 
Nigeria.

Obasanjo commended AFRIMA and AUC for unifying Africa through music. He 
said music was part of African Culture and reiterated the need for music 
and culture to be commercialised in order to create jobs and reduced 
poverty among African youths. He implored AFRIMA and AUC not to relent 
in achieving their objectives and called on brands and governments in 
Africa to partner with AFRIMA. He recalled similar projects as president 
like All African Games (COJA 2003) and Festival of Art and Culture in 
Africa (FESTAC '77) as platforms for promoting African culture and unity 
that require huge resources to organise.

He thanked AFRIMA for honouring him with their visit and challenged the 
AFRIMA Executive Producer to a squash game thereafter.

Earlier in his opening remark, the President and Executive Producer of 
AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada said, "the meeting and visit was in recognition of 
the former president as the former Chairperson of the African Union (AU) 
between July 2004 to January 2006. He is an African global icon, a 
cultural enthusiast and champion of African renaissance."

He intimated the former president with the objectives of the All African 
Music Awards, AFRIMA which is mainly to unite Africans through the 
instrumentality of art, music, culture and entertainment as well as 
promote and reward upcoming and established talents on the continent.

Said he "AFRIMA remains steadfast to the AUC’s values of promoting 
African unity and celebrating cultural uniqueness, thereby thanked the 
former  President for receiving AFRIMA team at his residence and 
specially invited him to the 2016 AFRIMA schedule to hold in November’.

A giant photo frame for his 79 birthday and Djembe drum were presented 
to the Former President by the AFRIMA Director of Sponsorship and 
Communications, Matlou Tsotsesi with the support of the AFRIMA 2015 
winner of Best RnB & Soul in Africa, Praiz and Communication Manager,ONE 
Campaign Africa, Nde Nfodinka (Wax Dey).

The 30-man AFRIMA team that comprise AFRIMA Associate Co-Producer, Efe 
Omorogbe, AFRIMA jury Member, Mr. Laolu Akins, AFRIMA media Committee 
member and Mr. Biodun Kupoluyi, AFRIMA Production Manager, Mr. Henry 
Alade, Entertainment Editor of The Sun Newspaper, Mr.Tosin Ajirire among 
others were later treated to a scrumptious indigenous food; Amala (Yam 
flour) with gbegiri soup (cooked mashed coatless beans soup) and ewedu  
(smashed jute leaf and melon seed) in Abeokuta.

In partnership with the African Union Commission, AUC, The All Africa 
Music Awards, AFRIMA, is a music property developed to celebrate, reward 
and showcase the rich musical culture of Africa, stimulate conversations 
among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the globe about the 
great potentials and values of the African culture and artistic heritage 
for the purpose of creating jobs, reducing poverty, calling attention of 
world leaders to Africa and promoting the positive image of Africa to 
the world.

For the 2016 edition of the continental awards tagged AFRIMA 3.0, The 
AFRIMA 2016 calendar will be formally unveiled in May by the African 
Union Commission (AUC) and International Committee of The All Africa 
Music Awards, AFRIMA at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the African 
Union Youth Charter.