Nearly 3, 000 African music professionals have submitted entries to the International Committee of the 2016 All African Music Awards, AFRIMA, tagged AFRIMA 3.0.

Submission of entries which is open to African music artistes, music professionals and other stakeholders living on the continent and in the Diaspora, commenced on May 30 and closed on July 30 with 2,714 entries received. The main awards ceremony holds from November 4 to November 6, 2016.

Expressing satisfaction at the number of entries submitted, the President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada declared that AFRIMA 3.0 took off on a high note with the unveiling of the awards calendar of activities during a joint cultural conference with the African Union Commission, AUC, held in Banjul, Gambia between May 24 and May 25, 2016.

“The passion to celebrate Africa’s cultural uniqueness through her talents will continue to build until it peaks during the grand awards ceremony in November,” Mike Dada said.

“I am happy about the high votes recorded this year which is an improvement on the number of entries submitted in 2015. The digitalised screening of entries by the International Jury of AFRIMA will commence soon after. This adjudication exercise will culminate in the announcement of AFRIMA 2016 Nominees List on a day to follow.”

Meanwhile, the 13-person International Jury of AFRIMA which represents the five regions of Africa, the Diaspora and the AUC are expected to enter into seven-day seclusion for the crucial responsibility of screening, categorising, assessing and selecting nominees from the body of works submitted for award consideration.

Concluding the adjudication process will be the World Media Announcement of the 2016 AFRIMA Nominees List in all 34 categories.

In partnership with the African Union Commission, AUC, the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, is a music and cultural initiative developed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical heritage of Africa, stimulate conversations among Africans and between Africa.