In recognition of AFRIMA’s roles and contributions to inspire African youths and raise the consciousness of African identity and renascence through Music, Culture and Entertainment for continental growth and development, the African Union has invited the President and Executive Producer of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mike Dada to address the meeting of the Ministers of Youths, Culture and Sports in Africa at the African Union 2nd Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports (STC-YCS2) which will hold at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on June 13 to 17,2016 with the theme : “African Year of Human Rights: Promoting Ethics and Cultural Diversity as an Essential Right for the People of Africa’’.

According to the Head of Culture, Department of Social Affairs, African Union Commission, AUC, Angela Martins “The 2nd session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sport is holding a few days after the celebration marking the 10th Anniversary of the African Union Youth Charter (the Banjul+10) which was an opportunity to advance the agenda for youth empowerment and development in all member states. The outcome documents of the Banjul+ 10 celebration will be presented to the STC-YCS2 for consideration, adoption and implementation by AU Member States.”

“The Charter for African Cultural Renaissance adopted by the 6th Assembly of the African Union held in Khartoum, the Sudan in January 2016 is the guiding policy tool for the promotion of the cultural and heritage sector in the continent. However, the Charter has only been ratified by eight (08) AU Member States even though thirty one (31) have signed it. The entry into force of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance will enable that the sector takes its rightful place and contributes significantly to the development of the continent through heritage and its cultural and creative industries sector.” She concluded.

Reacting to the Invitation to present a paper on the journey so far of The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA to the meeting of the Ministers of Youths, Culture and Sports, The President and Executive Producer of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mike Dada who is also the Chief Brand Strategist of PRM Africa Marketing and Communications states that “On behalf of the International Committee of AFRIMA, I express my sincere appreciation to the AU for this invitation as it indicates that AFRIMA is on the right path of communication the true narrative of Africa to the world through the instrumentality of music,art and Culture.”

Dada, a Public Relations and Brand Management expert with strong love for art, will also dwell on the economic power of Music, Culture and Entertainment as a tool for job creation and perception management of Africa during the summit.
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 musical 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 global competitiveness.

For the 2016 edition of the continental awards, AFRIMA remains steadfast to the AUC’s objectives of promoting African unity and celebrating her cultural uniqueness through programme of events on the AFRIMA 3.0 calendar (with entry submission opens on May 30, 2016) which was officially unveiled on Tuesday May 24 at the AUC-AFRIMA joint Stakeholders/media conference in Banjul, The Gambia. The 2016 edition of AFRIMA will hold in November.