It was a dazzling evening of elegance, warmth, and celebration as the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) hosted its 2025 Patrons’ dinner with the International Jury in Lagos, Nigeria.
The gathering brought together policymakers, stakeholders in Africa’s creative economy, music executives, artists, media representatives, and AFRIMA’s international jurors from 14 countries that are responsible for ensuring the credibility of Africa’s global music awards.
The event was hosted by AFRIMA Patron, Dr Bisi Onasanya, Chairman of The Address Homes.
This year’s jury session has brought together jurors from across the five regions of Africa and the Diaspora in Lagos, Nigeria. For over a week, they worked tirelessly to select nominees from a total of 10,717 entries received for AFRIMA 2025. The AFRIMA 2025 nominees’ list will be announced to the public on August 24, following the conclusion of the adjudication process.
However, the AFRIMA 2025 celebration is set to take place from November 25 to 30 in Lagos. The week-long show will include a variety of events, such as the Welcome Soiree, the AFRIMA Music Village, the African Music Business Summit, a Host City Tour, the Nominees Party, and the main awards ceremony.
This ceremony will be broadcast live in over 84 countries.
Nigeria’s Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, who led a strong cast of dignitaries to the dinner, praised AFRIMA’s global impact.
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, who represented the Lagos State government, assured stakeholders, artistes, and fans across Africa that the state is fully prepared to welcome the continent and the rest of the world.
Benson-Awoyinka, who was joined at the event by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said: “I think we are in the right place at the right time. For us in Lagos, hosting AFRIMA 2025 is not just another event; it is a big honour. People say we are the culture and entertainment capital of Africa, and we are ready to welcome the whole continent and the world to our city for this great event. We thank the Federal Government, our partners, and all those supporting AFRIMA for trusting Lagos to host again.”
Meanwhile, one of the jury members, Guy Neza, an Ivorian, who is representing West Africa on the panel, said: “It has been an amazing journey for me to be part of this journey. Africa is full of amazing talent, and it makes me happy to see our music and creativity receiving the recognition they deserve, as AFRIMA is the continent’s biggest music entity. Every artist who sends in their work is helping our creative industry grow stronger. With the quality of music we have screened, I can confidently say that the future of the industry is promising.”
Also, AFRIMA President and Founder, Mike Dada, thanked the jury, patrons, and creative stakeholders for their role in sustaining AFRIMA’s growth and success.
