International music star, Akon, has been announced as host of the 4th annual All Africa Music Awards (Afrima), taking place on Sunday, 12 November at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.
The annual All Africa Music Awards in partnership with the African Union Commission, is a celebration of Africa by rewarding the creativity and originality of African artistes and songwriters.
According to a statement by the African Union Commission and the International Committee of Afrima made available to the media on Tuesday, 31 October, the Senegal-born musician will handle the event proceedings of the live broadcast award show scheduled to air on over 80 television stations and online platforms across the world with support of co-host, Cameroonian-French entertainment broadcaster, Sophy Aiida.
Ranked the fifth most powerful celebrity in Forbes’s Africa list of 40, Akon is also a business man and philanthropist who is passionate about the African continent. He provides electricity for 15 African countries through his “Light Africa Project” and supports underprivileged African youngsters through his Konfidence Initiative.
Africans on the continent and in the diaspora, are also in eager anticipation for the Afrima Music Village – an evening of non-stop open music festival of live performances from African stars and nominees, with an audience of 40,000 people. It will also be broadcast live and produced by a prominent experiential marketing/production agency in Africa, Backstage Pro.
Also lined up for the weekend of Afrima 2017 is the Africa Music Business Roundtable in Association with Trace, themed, Digital Takeover: Shaping the Future of African Music, which takes place on 10 November.
More information at: www.afrima.org