Entertainment
AFRIMA President speaks on fostering collaboration within African music community as BridgeAfric launches in Malawi
AFRIMA President speaks on fostering collaboration within African music community as BridgeAfric launches in Malawi
In continuation of promoting and showcasing African artistes, providing them with platforms to reach a global audience beyond their home countries, the President/Executive Producer, All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, would be sharing his thought at the BridgeAfric’s Southern Africa launch in Malawi on March 23, 2024.
BridgeAfric is a revolutionary initiative aimed at connecting African artistes and industry professionals across the continent led by the dynamic Victoria Nkong.
With the theme; importance of fostering collaboration within the African music community, Dada would be speaking on the significance of working together in promoting African music on a global scale.
In his statement, the AFRIMA President noted that there are potentials for growth and success that come from uniting artistes, producers, and other stakeholders in the industry.
Dada, who lauded BridgAfric for its efforts in connecting Malawians artistes with industry professionals, helping them to build their careers and reach a wider audience, said he is committed to supporting initiatives like BridgAfric that empower African artists and promote the rich diversity of African music. He believes that by working together, they can create a more vibrant and inclusive music industry that celebrates the talent and creativity of artists from across the continent.
“This is very significant for the growth, development and promotion of the arts and music industry in Africa, especially when you look at it from the point of view of collaborations, the Malawi music industry and connecting to the center of the journey of the ongoing movements and the development of the African industry to the global audience,” Dada submitted.
Speaking on its widely acknowledged Africa’s prestigious annual music awards, Dada noted, “AFRIMA is for Africans, and everybody is entitled to be part of it. Malawi is entitled to be part of it being an African country, if you are a Malawian, it’s your right to be part of it. I think from records, if I’m correct, only two or three artistes from Malawi have won the AFRIMA Awards in the past, so we encourage more Malawians to be part of it so that you can get the benefit of being part of the collective movement of the continent. They should come on board more when it’s time for the submission of works, they should be part of the people to submit their works because we believe they have good sound and music coming from Malawi, so they use the AFRIMA platform to showcase to the rest of the world.”
Expressing her excitement, The BridgeAfric President, Victoria Nkong noted that the AFRIMA President’s insights and expertise will undoubtedly provide valuable knowledge and inspiration to all those in attendance.
“The presence of the AFRIMA President at the launch signifies the importance of this initiative and the potential impact it can have on the music industry in Malawi. BridgeAfric aims to provide a platform for emerging artists in Malawi to showcase their talent and connect with industry professionals. We look forward to a successful launch event and the positive impact that BridgeAfric Malawi will have on the local music scene,” Nkong submitted.
The star-studded event slated to be held at the majestic Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) Banquet Hall, in the Malawian capital, Lilongwe, is expected to attract several corporate executives, African artistes, entertainment stakeholders, celebrities, local and international media.
The BridgeAfric’s launch in Malawi will facilitate a talent workshop: Collaboration, Investments & Talent Development with seasoned African music giants in attendance. The workshop will provide a platform for local artists to interact and share their experiences with big names in the entertainment industry.
Some of the biggest acts from Malawi, such as the Nyau King Tay Grin, Phyzix, Che Kalonda, Lulu among others would be headlining the Southern African launch of BridgeAfric.
Other dignitaries expected to grace the event include Trace Representatives, representative of Live Nation in France, Ace Video Directors, 50 cents Producer and a lot more music business executives and international artists from around Africa.
Veteran music producer and entrepreneur Taps Bandawe will also be part of the speakers at the event while award-winning television personality Priscilla Kayira Nsane will be the moderator, as DJ Neptune will be on the decks.
Sound: My Driving Passion ~ godmarr
As African music acts continue to dominate global charts and shape the soundscape of modern pop culture, the producers behind the music are stepping into the spotlight. These maestros, each with a unique touch of their own, are driving the evolution of African music into a new era. Here’s a look at the producers set to define 2025.
GodOmarr
Starting his journey at the age of 16 playing drums in church, godOmarr transitioned to producing beats still as a teenager, largely inspired by his creative environment and his friend at the time Yazeed. “I’ve always known the software, but I used to just mess around with it. Watching my guy, Yazeed, use it gave me the ideas I needed,” he shares.
Fast forward to 2024, godOmarr’s portfolio now boasts Falling with Lojay, Visa with Reekado Banks and notably Letting Go with Lojay off Fireboy’s Adedamola. Recalling the session with Lojay and Fireboy, he said, “I wasn’t even sure about playing that beat, but as soon as it came on, the magic just happened. It was all vibes.”
godOmarr is intentional about making music that stands out from most and with his eyes on delivering more projects in 2025 as he tells us, God’Omar is set to be a name we’ll hear a lot more of. As he puts it, “The journey’s just getting started. More stuff coming more stuff coming.”
MassKennyD Speaks Out on Bullying in Nollywood, Challenges in the Industry
Beautiful Nollywood actress and young entrepreneur Adebowale Kehinde, popularly known as MassKennyD, has affirmed the existence of bullying in the Nigerian movie industry.
The graduate of Accounting from Esa-Oke College of Technology, Osun State, made this assertion during an interview with Potpourri, where she discussed the challenges she faced while starting out and how her passion for acting kept her going.
She highlighted how bullying, especially from senior colleagues, is a reality many actors experience. “I have never liked the feeling of being bullied. This is something almost every last child can relate with. For this reason, I have a strong aversion to bullying. So, I try not to overstep my boundaries so as not to create issues with senior colleagues because I like to fight for what’s right and just,” she said.
Recalling a particular incident, she shared, “There was a certain time I was spoken to rudely by someone I didn’t recognize while at a location. I didn’t respond in the same manner I was treated. I was quite calm about it, not until one of our coordinators heard about it and had to reprimand the fellow.”
Her Journey into Nollywood
MassKennyD traced her love for acting back to her early years in school. “Right from when I was in primary school, I always enjoyed performing with the Drama & Cultural Group, and this continued in secondary school. After my O’Level education, I met Aunty Laide Bakare, who I looked up to while growing up. I used to call her Aunty Idowu. I told her about my passion for acting, and she officially started taking me along with her to film locations,” she recounted.
However, she desired formal training and was later introduced to the late Dejo Tunfulu, who had an acting academy at the time.
Speaking on the difficulties she encountered, MassKennyD expressed her displeasure with the misconceptions people have about actors.
“People assume that because you appear on their screen, you must be extremely rich and comfortable. But one major challenge is not being as free as I would have loved to, bearing in mind that some people might recognize me,” she explained.
She also addressed the controversial issue of Sex-for-Roles in Nollywood, emphasizing that it should never be an option for any aspiring actress, as it is a dangerous path to take.
Her Rising Career
MassKennyD has appeared in several Nollywood productions, including Owo Ma Go, Inu Ji, Omoge Jemila, Ago Kan Oru, Omo Meji, Temilade Oniyepe, Secretary, Iwa, Akuko Oru, Itele, Oga Google, Kakaki, and Jomiloju, among others. Currently, she is working on Okinni, her own production.
With her dedication, resilience, and talent, MassKennyD continues to carve a niche for herself in the Nigerian film industry, inspiring young actors to pursue their dreams despite the challenges.
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