Tiwa Savage, Davido, Burna Boy, Simi Get 2019 AFRIMA Nominations

Aderele Niyi, AFRIMA Associate Producer with AFRIMA jury with some of the nominated artistes

The All Africa Music Awards on Wednesday unveiled Tiwa Savage, Davido, Burna Boy, Simi, Wizkid, Kizz Daniel, Teni, Yemi Alade, Niniola along with other international artistes nominated for  2019 edition of the prestigious award.

This was made public during a press conference held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos by Aderele Niyi, AFRIMA’s Associate Producer.

Niyi said that the nominees that cut across Western, Eastern, Central Southern and Northern Africa were carefully picked after rigorous screenings by a group of professional jury.

She said that some of the criteria used in arriving at the nominees include:  fairness, creativity, excellence, integrity, originality of their music, authenticity which must reveal African concept among other things.

According to her, the world music festival will hold between Nov.21 to  Nov. 23, 2019, in a country that will be announced next month.

Niyi said that the event was established to reward and celebrate musical works, talents, and creativity around the African continent while promoting the African cultural heritage.

“The platform is to position Africa as a musical hub for the world as Africans are seen as talented and highly creative.

“This is going to be the 6th edition of AFRIMA and I can say that it has been getting better each year; this year’s edition promises to be a unique one,” she said.

Niyi called for continental support from African leaders in order to enlarge the scope of the event for more international acceptance.

She also urged music artistes to see the platform as theirs for better exploration.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the following were nominated for the best male artistes from  West Africa: Burna boy with his song “Ye”, Davido’s “Wonder Woman”, Kizz Daniel’s “Madu”, Wizkid’s “Fever”.

Other nominated artistes are: King Promise from Ghana; Salif Keita from Mali, Shatta Wale from Ghana, Sidiky Diabate from Mali and late DJ Arafat from Cote d’Ivoire.

The nominees for the female category from Nigeria and their works are, Simi’s “I Dun Care”; Tiwa Savage’s “One”; Teni’s “Case”; Yemi Alade’s “Oh My Gosh”; Niniola’s Bana.

Others are Aya Nakamura from Mali; Jossey from  Cote d’Ivoire; Kanuer Adams from Liberia; Manamba Kante from  Guinea and Mzuee from Ghana.

The best male artistes nominated from  Central Africa are : C4 Pedro from Angola; Fally Ipupa from  Congo; Locko from  the Cameroon; and Magasco also from Cameroon.

Others are; Maitre Gims from Congo; Rui Orlando from Angola; Niska from  Congo Brazzaville; Salatiel from the  Cameroon and Ya Levis from the  Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

(NAN)