The International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in association with the Africa Union Commission (AUC) and Lagos State on has announced an unprecedented stellar line-up of top African stars who have confirmed attendance at the main awards ceremony on Sunday, November 6.
Scheduled to hold at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos the main awards ceremony is preceded by the AFRIMA Music Village, a concert event at the WaterFront, Bar Beach, Victoria Island.
Leading the pack of those said to have confirmed attendance is the 22-man Soweto Gospel Choir which blends elements of African gospel, Negro spirituals, reggae and American pop.
One of the most decorated choral groups in Africa, the Soweto Gospel Choir has won multiple awards including Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album, Blessed and African Spirit, in 2007 and 2008 respectively. The 22-member choir ensembles.
Confirming their performance at AFRIMA3.0 Awards in November, Executive Producer/Director Soweto Choir, Beverly Bryer, stated: “Soweto Choir is honoured to have been nominated at the AFRIMA in 2015 and to perform at the AFRIMA 2016; we look forward to returning to Lagos for this exciting event”.
Other nominees billed to attend or perform at AFRIMA include Nigeria’s four-time Grammy nominee, Femi Kuti, and Cameroon’s Manu Dibango, whose song ‘Soul Makossa’ has influenced several popular music hits, including Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.
AFRIMA 2016 nominees with six nominations, Eddy Kenzo (Uganda), will be in attendance with other top nominees from East Africa including Alikiba, Diamond Platnumz, Bebe Cool, Victoria Kimani, Jose Chamelone, Vanessa Mdee, Cindy Sanyu, Caniel Lubwama Kigozi, Evelyn Wanjiru, Irene Ntale, Kuseim, Navio, Papa Dennis and Rigan Sarkozi, Zina Daoudia and Ziza Bafana.
North Africa nominees include DJ Van, Ayman Alatar, Ahmed Soultan, Sarah Ayoub, Zina Daoudia, Sarah Ayoub.
Nominees from West Africa include D’banj, VVIP, Flavour, Tiwa Savage, Sakordie, Kiss Daniel. Aramide, Brymo, Clarence Peters, Dark Suburb, Phyno, Brymo, Wiyaala, Tekno, Fortune Dane, Mabiisi, Mex, Niniola, Nuru, Okyeame Kwame, Iyanya, Pascal Aka, Ric Hassani, Seyi Shay, Simi, Tjan, Ycee, Zeynab, Kiff No Beat and H Magnum.
Confirmed attendees from South Africa are Anatii, Cassper Nyovest, AKA, M’vula, Black Coffee, CiCi Bala, Dizu Plaatjies, Lizha James, Moreira Chonguica, Sally Boss Madam, Zani Challe, Bruna Titiana, Kunle Ayo, with Central Africa region include, Bruna Tatiana, Bruna Tatiana, Daphne, Franko, Icha Kavons, Jizzle, M” vula, Montess, Naomi Achu, Stanley Enow, Stypak Samo, Syssi Mananga, T smallz and Wax Dey among others.
