AU, AFRIMA mark Africa Day with solidarity concert for COVID-19 response fund

In commemoration of this year’s Africa Day, the Africa Union Commission (AUC) and the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) hosted a live virtual solidarity concert for the AU COVID-19 Response Fund, under the theme: Health Security in the Context of COVID-19 and tagged #StrongerTogether. It was broadcast on social media platforms and TRACE Television stations across Africa on Monday, May 25, 2020.

The concert, which is aimed at inspiring action with key messages on the prevention, protection and response measures to contain Coronavirus, is expected to leverage the power of music and the crucial role of African artists in advocating for an end to the COVID-19 on the continent as well as galvanise solidarity for financial and in-kin contributions to the response fund.

The virtual concert, which was hosted by the British-Congolese Comedian, actor and philanthropist, Eddie Kadi; Nigerian singer and songwriter, Chidinma and Camerounian television host and entrepreneur, Pamela Happi (Miss P), showcased the pan-African spread of the continent’s music talents and delivering high tempo performances by the artistes at different locations across Africa and the diaspora.

Superstar African artistes who performed live at the Africa Day 2020 #StrongerTogether Solidarity Concert include 2Baba Idibia (Nigeria); Sakordie (Ghana); Amiinux (Morocco); Toofan (Togo); Busiswa (South Africa); Becca (Ghana); Betty G (Ethiopia), Salatiel (Cameroun), Hiro (DRC); Rudeboy (Nigeria); Master KG (South Africa), Nikita Kering (Kenya).

Others were Salif Keita (Mali); Nadya Shanab (Egypt), Kanvee Adams (Liberia), DJ Spinall (Nigeria); DJ Moh Green (Algeria); Awilo Longomba (DRC), Ahmed Soultan (Morocco), Pape Diouf (Senegal), Daphne (Cameroun), Lizah James (Mozambique), and Naiboi (Kenya), among others.

According to the Associate Producer of AFRIMA, Ms. Adenrele Niyi, “Africa, just like the rest of the world, has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The emotional and physical wellbeing and livelihoods of our people are bearing the brunt of the Coronavirus. However, even as a new world order emerges, the African Union and member nations are showing leadership which inspires confidence that Africa will come of this stronger than before.”

Aderenle said, “in AFRIMA, our vision as a cultural institution is ingrained in pushing the Africa development agenda for a more viable continent and it is for this reason we are collaborating with the African Union on the Africa Day Virtual Solidarity concert to support the AU’s COVID-19 Response Fund. We’re happy that our stakeholders, the musical talents of Africa, are aware of their influence and how impactful it is in trying times with many vulnerable communities suffering in our midst.”