Senator Bola Tinubu is to be specially honoured with the prestigious award of Pillar of Art and Culture in Africa by the African Union Commission (AUC) at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2015 on Sunday, November 15, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The International Committee of AFRIMA announced this in Lagos while revealing the activities of the award ceremony.
Tinubu was former governor of Lagos State in Nigeria (1999-2007). He’s known to have stimulated conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the globe about the potentials and values of the African culture and artistic legacy for the purpose of creating jobs, reducing poverty, inspiring social change and development, calling attention of world leaders to Africa and promoting the positive image of Africa to the world for global competitiveness. A staunch supporter of arts, culture and creative initiatives for social change for decades, h e particularly supported Fela on Broadway to be staged for the first time in Africa in Lagos in 2011.
The honour was made known to Tinubu in separate letters from AFRIMA and the African Union as signed by Commissioner for Social Affairs, AU, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko. Tinubu was finally selected among a pool of 100s of illustrious sons and daughters of Africa being considered for the award, who are lovers of arts and culture for social change.
In his acceptance letter, Tinubu stated, “I accept this honour and look forward to the award. I identify with the mandate of AFRIMA working through the instrumentality of the African Union to showcase, preserve and globalise Africa’s rich heritage in the aspects of music and culture”
In partnership with the AUC, AFRIMA is a music and cultural initiative designed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical heritage of Africa and seek to reward excellence in the continent’s music and media industry as well as maximally expose African tourism and culture to a worldwide audience.
Confirming the award recognition on Tinubu by the AUC, President/Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mike Dada said that AFRIMA is again aligning with the AUC’s values of promoting African identity and celebrating cultural diversity, creative industry for social change in Africa.
“We are happy to welcome His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the All Africa Music Awards 2015 in November,” he stated.
AFRIMA is expected to be broadcast live to over 80 countries across the world with African music stars like Ladysmith Black Mombazo, Davido, Diamond Platnumz, Yemi Alade, Busiswa, AKA, Sakordie, Charlotte Dipanda, Ahmed Soultan, Flavour, Alikiba, Vanessa Mdee, Olamide, Cassper Nyovest, Dark Suburb and a host of others on the stage.