Connect with us

Business

5TH AFRIMA DEBUTS 4 NEW AWARD CATEGORIES

Published

on

 

…DJs, Dancers, Artistes in the Diaspora can now win the AFRIMA 23.9k
Gold-plated Trophy

The fifth edition of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, in partnership with the African Union Commission, has debuted four new award categories to enjoin inclusiveness and expand the playing field in the awarding process for African music and creative professionals who have begun to send in their entries for the 5th AFRIMA on the online submission portal that opened on Friday, May 25 to commemorate the 2018 Africa Day.

The newly introduced award categories namely African DJ of the Year; Best African Dance/Choreography; African Lyricist/Rapper of the Year and Best African Act in Diaspora (Female & Male), were carefully arrived at after extensive consultations with African music stakeholders which included the AFRIMA Academy of Voters and members of the International Committee of AFRIMA in response to the yearnings and requests of stakeholders, DJ’s, dancers and artistes in diaspora. This process attests to the objective of
AFRMA to use the African creative industry to showcase the unique cultural heritage of Africa to the rest of the world while celebrating innovations and diversification in Africa’s contemporary music industry.

AFRIMA awards categories are divided into two: Continental and Regional categories. The Continental Category rewards African artistes in various music genres and forms ranging from pop, hip hop, inspirational, jazz, electro, DJ and more, while the Regional Category celebrates the outstanding achievements of African artistes within their specific region of origin.

African DJ of the Year; Best African Dance/Choreography; African Lyricist/Rapper of the Year and Best African Act in Diaspora all fall under the Continental Category. In addition, the Best African Act in Diaspora is dedicated to artistes with African roots/origin who practice their craft in the international music industry and have prominence and renowned on the international music stage. The artiste’s music style could either be in the traditional or contemporary forms of expression.

Commenting on the welcome development, the Jury Member representing Africa music in the Diaspora (North America), Hadja Kobélé Keita said: “AFRIMA have given African artistes, for the past few years, an opportunity to capture the attention of an extension and comparatively distinct swath of the public, while emphasising on the unique importance of our diverse African musical culture. The addition of the Diaspora category is a direct emphasis on the critical role Africans in diaspora have as the ambassador of our culture on a global scale”. Music videos, songs or recordings sent to the AFRIMA online submission platform www.afrima.org must be produced, recorded or written (in the case of songwriters) by African music professionals and publicly released within the eligibility period of August 1, 2017 to August 1, 2018. The award is open to music artistes, producers, songwriters, video directors,DJs, choreographers/dancers who stand a chance to win the AFRIMA 23.9k gold-plated trophy in one or more of the awards 36 categories. AFRIMA also has a special AFRIMA Legend Award category which recognises the special lifetime achievements of living or dead African music icon as jointly determined by the African Union, International Committee of AFRIMA and the AFRIMA Jury.

Following the culmination of submission period is the adjudication process where the AFRIMA 13-man Jury will, over two weeks, oversee the thorough and fair screening, categorising and assessment of entries received. The adjudication period ends with the unveiling of the AFRIMA 2018 Nominees List. The 5th AFRIMA with the theme “Africa is Music” will be celebrating the innovative sounds created by African artistes promoting the dynamism of traditional and contemporary African music, while creating a global market for the sustainability of African arts and culture.

Also to be featured as part of activities scheduled for the main awards events is the Africa Music Business Roundtable, a combination of musical conference and trade expo where stakeholders in the creative and arts industry come together to discuss the business of music in Africa. There is also the AFRIMA Music Village, a music concert and cultural festival that accommodates over 40,000 music lovers across the continent who witness live performances from their favourite African artistes.

The main awards ceremony is slated to come up in November 2018 and it will be broadcast live to 84 countries around the globe.

 

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Business

BUA Group Donates Headquarters to NWDC, Boosts Tinubu’s Regional Development Agenda

Published

on

BUA Group Donates Headquarters to NWDC, Boosts Tinubu’s Regional Development Agenda

BUA Group Donates Headquarters to NWDC, Boosts Tinubu’s Regional Development Agenda

 

In a bold gesture of private-sector support for regional growth, BUA Group has officially handed over a fully equipped multipurpose building to the newly created North-West Development Commission (NWDC) to serve as its temporary headquarters in Kano State.

The handover ceremony, held at the facility on Court Road, Kano, drew prominent figures from the public and private sectors, including Commission officials, community leaders, and BUA representatives.

Speaking on behalf of the Founder and Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, his son Khalifa Abdul Samad Rabiu described the gesture as a practical show of BUA’s commitment to inclusive national development.

“At BUA, we believe inclusive development starts with providing institutions the tools to succeed,” Khalifa said. “This donation by my father is more than just bricks and mortar—it’s about laying a foundation for people-centred growth in support of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Chairman of the North-West Development Commission, Alhaji Lawal Sama’ila Abdullahi, hailed the donation as “strategic and timely,” adding that it would help the Commission hit the ground running in its mandate to accelerate infrastructure and economic growth across the North-West.

“This support from BUA is not just generous—it is strategic. It gives us the necessary momentum as we commence the Commission’s work to transform lives and unlock the immense potential of the North-West,” he said.

The donation complements an earlier ₦3 billion land parcel provided by the Kano State Government for the Commission’s permanent headquarters, underscoring a growing coalition of support for the NWDC.

With this move, BUA Group continues to champion public-private collaboration as a critical driver of sustainable development in Nigeria.

Continue Reading

Business

Elite 18 global golfers honours Aare Adetola Emmanuelking with Nigeria’s first ever Noble Golfer award

Published

on

Elite 18 global golfers honours Aare Adetola Emmanuelking with Nigeria’s first ever Noble Golfer award

In a landmark celebration of sportsmanship, leadership, and vision, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, the esteemed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Adron Homes and Properties, has been honored with Nigeria’s inaugural Noble Golfer Award. This prestigious accolade was conferred upon him by the renowned Elite 18 Global Golfers during a high-profile event that brought together key figures from the sports, real estate, and business sectors.

The Noble Golfer Award recognizes individuals who have shown steadfast dedication to advancing the game of golf and promoting sports culture in their communities. Aare Emmanuelking’s nomination exemplifies his exceptional commitment to enriching the golfing landscape in Nigeria, alongside his broader initiatives aimed at fostering sports development across the nation.

Aare Emmanuelking is not merely a business leader; he is a pioneer in integrating golf into modern lifestyle experiences. Currently, he is leading the ambitious development of a state-of-the-art golf course in Nigeria a monumental project that aspires to redefine leisure, tourism, and sporting excellence within the country. This golf course aims to provide a premier playing experience while also serving as a social hub for golfing enthusiasts and the community at large.

In a bid to make golf more inclusive and accessible, Aare Emmanuelking has also initiated the construction of advanced golf driving ranges in all Adron Homes Estates across Nigeria. This visionary project is designed to encourage participation in the sport among Nigerians of all ages and backgrounds, fostering wellness, recreation, and community engagement as integral parts of Adron’s residential developments.

At the award presentation, Aare Emmanuelking conveyed his heartfelt gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing his belief in the transformative power of sports as a vehicle for national development and youth empowerment. He remarked, “Golf is not just a game; it exemplifies discipline, a distinct lifestyle, and a pursuit of excellence. Through Adron Homes, we are not merely constructing houses—we are nurturing communities built on the foundations of wellness, unity, and opportunity.”

The Elite 18 Global Golfers commended Aare Emmanuelking’s innovative approach, highlighting how he effectively merges real estate advancements with world-class sports infrastructure. They acknowledged that his efforts have the potential to inspire a new generation of golfers and to position Nigeria as a premier destination for international golfing events.

As Aare Adetola Emmanuelking continues to break new ground in both the real estate and sports development arenas, receiving this award serves as a testament to his lasting influence—not only in the realms of business but also in cultivating a legacy of excellence, one fairway at a time. His contributions are poised to create lasting change, inspiring future generations and fostering a vibrant culture of sport and community in Nigeria.

Continue Reading

Bank

WHO IS AFRAID OF FIDELITY BANK -By Udeme Etukeyen

Published

on

WHO IS AFRAID OF FIDELITY BANK -By Udeme Etukeyen

Leading up to the recent superlative annual reports showcasing one of the most significant growth experienced by a Nigeria Financial Institution in recent years I was forced to ask “what is Fidelity Bank” doing right?

My banking and financial sector experience got me digging deeper into the statistics of the report-Fidelity Bank recorded a substantial 210.0% growth in PBT, reaching N385.2 billion in FY 2024. Deposits increased by 47.9%, from N4.0 trillion in 2023FY to N5.9 trillion in 2024FY, Gross earnings shooting by 87.7% to N1,043.4 billion which was primarily caused by a 106.9% increase in interest and similar income. Was I impressed? Absolutely

Now to the scary part, they opened the year with a bang implying that 2025 year end results was going to be nothing but spectacular; check this out-Fidelity reported a whooping 167.8% increase in PBT (Profit Before Tax)to N105.8 billion in Q1 2025, compared to N39.5 billion in Q1 2024. Gross earnings from January to April had reached some N315.421 billion signaling a 64.21% increase year-on-year.

These results were nothing short of astonishing and with great hope I sat my team to review our Investment Strategy to accommodate taking up equities in Fidelity and advising our portfolio investors to do same.

We quickly appraised the fundamentals and Key Success Factors to include their focus on the strategic youth economy that the Creative and Digital Transformation sector promises, the banks bullish inroads in MSME promotion and financing, their glowing penchant for Gender inclusion without abandoning the core sectors of Mining, Renewables and other key industries

Then came the dissecting of Leadership, my team of analysts mostly female went on about Fidelity MD being one of the most experienced and affable Amazons in the industry; done this, achieved that and all the entreaties you’d expect from smart ladies who feel mentored from a distance. I didn’t hesitate to draw their attention to the experience of the menfolk within the organization like I had any measurable data to establish that mix…truth remains you can’t but admire the Banks Leadership and strides

A deeper look at the banks expansion globally could reveal a strategic and noiseless acquisition of Union Bank,London and their planned incursion into African and other European financial markets, you just can see that such daring strides and impact would give competition and detractors sleepless nights. Not in an era where sleeping pills are sold strictly by prescription and no thanks to the high cost of medication for peddlers of cheap propaganda

Within barely 30days of announcing such magnificent results little wonder how pundits would cook or spin a narrative to suggest a bank that has announced herself as First Tier with shoulders leveled up with other Banking giants would shudder over a judgement against her customer G.Cappa or even the contribution they would be required to cough out over that said Sagecom saga. With that judgement not going the way of pundits a contemptuous attempt at calculating interest at unclassified rates from an initial N14b to cause an unnecessary scare or negative press on the bank speaks volumes of how we unrepentantly strive to destroy value in our economy.

One would think that interpretation of the judgment and computation of due figures which will understandably come with a payment plan be awaited instead of the usual bad blood generated and envisaged by toddler media characters.

It is not in doubt that the discerning public sees through the cruise and flat falling attempt of dramatic clout chasers ever ready to stain Fidelity’s white apparel which savvy Investors and analysts are filled with bridal admiration

Like Joseph Campbell hinted in his famous quote “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” We cast our treasures and bets on Fidelity Bank as the Nigerian treasure house to beat in the years ahead!

*Udeme Etukeyen is an Abuja based Pan African Investment Advisory Expert*

Continue Reading

Cover Of The Week

Trending