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AU, AFRIMA releases 5th Awards Nominees List …Public voting to commence Monday, August 27

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The globally-anticipated Nominees List for the 5th All Africa Music
Awards, AFRIMA, has been unveiled by the African Union Commission, AUC,
and the International Jury of AFRIMA, during a World Media announcement
held on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria
Island, Lagos.

The released nominees list covers the five Regional Categories divided
into Female and Male categories as follows: Best Female Artiste in Central
Africa; Best Male Artiste in Central Africa; Best Female Artiste in
Eastern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa; Best Female Artiste
in Northern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa; Best Female
Artiste in Southern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa; Best
Female Artiste in Western Africa and Best Male Artiste in Western Africa.

A total of 79 songs made it to the Regional nominees list.
Cameroon takes up four of the eight spots in the category for Best Female
Artiste in Central Africa, followed by DRC (2), and Angola (2). In the
category for Best Male Artiste in Central Africa, Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) takes the lead with five spots followed by Cameroon 2 and Chad
1.

From Eastern Africa, the female category Kenya holds three spots while
Uganda takes 2 with Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania occupying one nomination
slot respectively. In the male category, Kenya and Tanzania maintain three
nominations each Tanzania ties with Ethiopia & Tanzania registering one
nomination apiece.

The Algerian female artistes have a lead ahead of their male counterparts
as they took four out of the six spots in the category for Best Female
Artiste in Northern Africa, with Tunisia and Egypt holding one spot each.
The Male category has Moroccan artistes occupying four of the eight spots,
Algeria 2, Egypt and Tunisia earning one nomination each.

The Southern African region is dominated by South African artistes both in
the male and female categories, with a total of nine spots, followed by
Zimbabwe- 3, while Swaziland, Namibia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe take 1 spot
each.

The Western region Male category is having great contenders between
Nigeria and Ghana. Holding up 4 spots is Nigeria, closely followed by
Ghana (3), while Guinea and Cape Verde hold 1 spot each. The Best Female
Artiste in the Western region has Nigeria and Ghana in a tie of 2 spots
respectively, with Benin (1), Mali (1), Senegal (1), and Cote d’Ivoire
(1).

While providing insights into the process by which the entries were
reviewed and graded, the spokesperson for the International Jury of AFRIMA
and the Programme Director, Cameroon TV and Radio, CRTV, Mr. Robert
Ekukole (representing Eastern Africa) explained that tasked with the
responsibility of carefully and mindfully sieving through 8,009 entries
submitted by African music professionals within the awards validity period
of August 1, 2017 to August 1, 2018, “the jury members have no choice but
to be thorough and deliberate about their work because we will be doing
artistes and creators of these works a great injustice if we don’t accord
them the review their works deserves”,
“The AFRIMA Nominees list we arrived at reflects and represents the
top-notch creative expressions of music talents and professionals within
the relevant regions and validity period. However, we also have a
challenge where some artistes failed to enter for the awards and as such
missed the opportunity to be evaluated or possibly nominated for AFRIMA”.

The AFRIMA adjudication is carried out electronically via the proprietary
AFRIMA Adjudication Software, which was designed by AFRIMA in 2014, has
been deployed for use since the 2015 annual adjudication process.

When public voting opens on the AFRIMA website on Monday, August 27, both
continental and regional nominees in the 38 AFRIMA award categories will
compete against one another for the coveted 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA
Trophy. Nominees will now depend on votes from their fans and followers
spread across the globe to vote for their songs in an open voting process
via the AFRIMA website, www.afrima.org

From August 7, when the annual adjudication process began, the 13-man
AFRIMA Jury worked painstakingly and tirelessly in assessing and grading
the submitted entries which was an astronomical increase of 63% against
the 2017 entries received by AFRIMA.

Speaking on the parameters considered by the Jury during the adjudication
process, Jury member representing Diaspora (North America), Hadja Kobélé
Keita, a music executive with work experience in international music
companies like Universal Music Africa and Island Africa, reiterated the
AFRIMA objective, which is about rewarding and promoting talents and
creativity in Africa.
“AFRIMA has specific guidelines they follow in considering musical works
that are nominated yearly, besides these guidelines, we also look out for
the quality of works submitted. An artiste’s popularity will not influence
the Jury’s verdict, just because an artiste has 100 million views on
Youtube does not guarantee making the list, unless such works are produced
with high quality and represent the continent properly. Other guidelines
the Jury considers are the current trends and market position”, she
further explains.

The AFRIMA’s open voting process will occur via the AFRIMA website,
www.afrima.org. Music lovers will be empowered to decide which
artiste/song emerges winners of the 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy.

The 5th AFRIMA is scheduled to hold in November 2018, other activities
scheduled for the main awards events is the Africa Music Business
Roundtable, a combination of musical conference and trade expo where
stakeholders in the creative and arts industry come together to discuss
the business of music in Africa, also the AFRIMA Music Village, a music
concert and cultural festival that accommodates over 40,000 music lovers
across the continent who witness live performances from their favourite
African artistes.

Entertainment

Nigerian Art Icons Lemi Ghariokwu and Ini Dan to be Honored at Ojez Forum on Sunday

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A celebration of artistic excellence is on the horizon as the February edition of the Ojez Forum pays tribute to two giants of Nigerian art: Lemi Ghariokwu and Otunba Akang Ini Dan. The event will be held this Sunday at Ojez Lounge, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

 

Lemi Ghariokwu, also known as Emmanuel Sunday, is a self-taught Nigerian visual artist celebrated for his distinctive and thought-provoking album cover designs. He is most recognized for his extensive collaboration with Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, creating the artwork for 26 of Kuti’s albums. Ghariokwu’s art is distinguished by its vibrant colors, meticulous detail, and socio-political messages, reflecting African identity, activism, and cultural pride. His prolific career includes designing over 2,000 album covers for artists around the globe, including iconic figures such as Bob Marley, Miriam Makeba, and Lucky Dube. His work has been showcased in exhibitions worldwide.

Otunba Akang Ini Dan is the Managing Director and CEO of Fodak Production. He is also the founder and chairman of the Sister Heart and Visual Foundation, organizations dedicated to developing artistic talent and promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage. As Vice President (South West) of the Society for Nigerian Artists, Otunba Dan has been a champion for artists’ rights and a facilitator of platforms for artistic expression.

 

The Ojez Forum is a monthly event that highlights individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts in Nigeria. This month’s gathering promises to be a special occasion, bringing together artists, enthusiasts, and patrons to celebrate the accomplishments of Lemi Ghariokwu and Otunba Akang Ini Dan. Attendees can anticipate engaging discussions, exhibitions, and performances showcasing the vibrant landscape of Nigerian art.

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KongaFM -103.7 Launches “Shop On Radio”

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For the first time in Africa, radio is no longer just about listening to music and advertisements; it’s added shopping. KongaFM -103.7, Nigeria’s pioneering Hit Music & Commerce radio station, is set to change the way Nigerians buy and sell with the official launch of “Shop On Radio.” On Monday 24th of February, 2025.

 

This is a game changer at a time Nigeria increased data cost by 50%.

 

This groundbreaking initiative, powered by an innovative partnership between KongaFM and Konga.com, turns live radio broadcasts into an interactive shopping experience, allowing listeners to place orders seamlessly, even without wasting so much cash on Data. Nigerian shoppers now have options with Konga.com and most importantly rock buttom prices on all items announced live on radio and delivered same day in lagos if orders are placed before 12noon.

 

Shoppers are encouraged to open a wallet with Kongapay.com as stock may be limited and orders shall be treated on first paid.

 

According to Mayowa Oladeji, Communications Lead at KongaFM, this marks a major shift in the e-commerce landscape.

“For the first time in Africa, radio is becoming an interactive shopping destination, bringing together millions of listeners and turning them into instant shoppers. We urge manufacturers and business owners to seize this opportunity by reaching out via WhatsApp, email, or Konga.com to showcase their products to a ready market.

Thanks to our innovative partnership, customers in Lagos who order during the show will enjoy guaranteed best prices and same-day delivery in Lagos, while we conclude logistics for same day delivery in other major cities of Nigeria before month of June this year, making shopping faster and more convenient than ever. This is a component of the future of commerce in Africa powered by KongaFM -103.7, streaming globally on kongafm.com 24hours every day.

 

How It Works

Listeners can tune in to “Shop On Radio” every morning from 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM and again in the evening from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Products will be announced live on air, often with exclusive discounts, and customers can place orders instantly via WhatsApp or Konga.com. A KongaFM representative confirms the order, and for Lagos-based shoppers, delivery is completed the same day; a service made possible by Konga Logistics’ expanded fleet of 140 trucks, buses, and over 120 motorbikes.

Beyond Lagos, Nigerians across the country, and even in the diaspora, can participate by streaming live at kongafm.com, ensuring that no one is left out of this retail revolution.

A Win-Win for Shoppers and Businesses

With high internet costs, trust issues, and logistical inefficiencies still posing challenges to e-commerce in Nigeria, Shop On Radio offers a data-free, fast, and trusted alternative for both buyers and sellers.

 

For shoppers, this means exclusive deals, quick and easy WhatsApp ordering, and guaranteed same-day delivery in Lagos. For businesses, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and SMEs, this is a golden opportunity to reach a massive, engaged audience instantly and boost sales in real time.

Shoppers and merchants beyond Lagos can also seamlessly place orders or advertise their businesses, with Konga Logistics’ expanded fleet ensuring timely and efficient nationwide delivery.

 

To further enhance the experience, Konga.com has upgraded its call center to handle increased order volumes, ensuring smooth transactions and customer support.

More Than Just Shopping—A 24/7 Experience

KongaFM is more than a marketplace; it’s a dynamic platform designed to cater to diverse audiences. The station kicks off each day from 5 -7am with Morning Inspiration, featuring best global gospel music with uplifting words to start you day blessed captioned -Start your Day with God, and same All Sundays. It is inspiring both for Entrepreneurs, students, unemployed, employed and those retired. It is unbelievable these contents are domiciled in a Nigeria radio station powered by AI, ensuring a well-rounded listening experience beyond commerce.

KongaFm 103.7 in support of a new economy is also extending Free Advertisement to both big, medium and small businesses to showcase their products. Interested companies are advised to call 07080635705 or email info@kongafm.com

 

The future of shopping is here. Don’t just listen. Shop, sell, and save; all on KongaFM -103.7!

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Lagos Tourism commissioner on working visit to San Francisco film and entertainment commission

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Lagos Tourism commissioner on working visit to San Francisco film and entertainment commission

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