Last year ended on a very glamorous note with the first edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which brought together some of the best talents from the five regions of the continent to the main award ceremony on Saturday, December 27, at the Grand Ballroom, Oriental Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria.
Starting from the red carpet to the stage embellishments, Africa’s enduring cultural heritage and creativity were on display at the highly-anticipated awards ceremony that also welcomed guests which included African Union Commission (AUC) officials, government officials from ministries of culture, ministries of trade and industry and captains of industry across Africa.
The ceremony, produced by PRM Africa, a Lagos-based public relations, brand communication and event production agency, was conceptualised around African cultural themes ranging from the rich Egyptian heritage of the Pharaoh era to the earthy depth of the artistically intricate Benin Kingdom, the folklore and oratory skills of the West Africans and the fierce power of the Zulu Kingdom.
AFRIMA 2014 opened with a dramatic appearance on stage of the 11 feet high Adagbe drum, arguably the world’s tallest drum, rhythmically beaten by drummers on stilts while fire breathers brought a fiery glow to the performance.
The audience was further awed by the presence of veteran Nigerian culturist and actor, Pa Peter Fatomilola, who emerged on stage to chant a litany of prayers and proverbs in Yoruba language.
The event’s 14 ushers wore the Benin and Egyptian queens’ attires – seven apiece, while the 16-man security team wore the traditional regalia of Zulu warriors of South Africa to man the event venue and the red carpet area where guests were treated to assorted drinks, finger foods, photo shoots and interview sessions.
The costumes donned by the award’s hosts, globally renowned African music star, 2face Idibia, and Togo’s bilingual radio and TV personality, Marisse Akotie, remained true to the cultural concept of AFRIMA 2014. The event’s first music performance by 2face saw him wear the royal outfit of a Pharaoh to perform his hit single, ‘Odi Ya’, to a backing choreography by 54 children representing the 54 countries on the African continent. Marisse, complemented the one also known as 2Baba in her Egyptian queen outfit, as she joined her co-host on stage after his performance for the formal opening of the night’s event.
Other sizzling performances came from top African performing artistes such as Dear Zim from Zimbabwe; Wiyaala from Ghana; Radio and Weasel from Uganda; Bez, TemiDollface, Niyola, Timi Dakolo, Oritsefemi, Davido all from Nigeria among others.
Nigerian artistes also took home the highest number of trophies, 13 in total, with O.B.O crooner, Davido, carting away four of the coveted 29.3 carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophies. 2Baba won the Best African R&B and Soul category endorsed by Channel O, while Afrobeat creator, the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, received the AFRIMA Legend Award, whichwas presented by the Head of Culture Division, Social Affairs Department, AUC, Mrs. Angela Martins (who represented the AUC chairperson at the ceremony). The award was received on Fela’s behalf by his first daughter, Yeni Kuti.