By: Bakary Ceesay
The African Union (AU) Commission has affirmed its continuous support and commitment to its partnership with the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMAs).
The pronouncement was made at the recently concluded 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In attendance at the strategic meeting for the advancement of the creative industry in Africa were AU commissioner for social affairs Amira Mohammed Elfadil, Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, AU social affairs director Cisse Mariama Mohamed, AU head of culture Angela Martins, AFRIMAs president Mike Dada and AFRIMAs Ethiopia director Eyob Alemayehu, among others.
“The AU will continue to support and partner the AFRIMAs on this journey of leveraging the platform of music, art and culture to engage young people as well as unite and promote Africa positively to the world,” Elfadil said.
Mike Dada expressed gratitude to the AU and the Nigerian government for their support.
“The planning and preparation for the AFRIMAs 2020 is in top gear and we are ready to wow and bring Africa together again in an atmosphere of love, unity, celebration and forward thinking that will act as the growth engine for intra-Africa trade and development,” Dada said.
Meanwhile, 12 heads of African states have committed to play a role of leadership, advocacy and facilitation in arts, culture and heritage in Africa. The 12 adopted a draft resolution to declare 2021 as the year of culture, to develop the creative industries on the continent while generating economic development and outreach.
Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was designated as AU head for arts, culture and heritage with the establishment of a presidential-level structure of 12 additional heads of state from Ghana, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Congo-Brazzaville, the DRC, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria and South Africa.