Lagos has come alive as 1,216 artistes, delegates, and members of the production team descended on the city for the ninth edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA). The announcement came during the Welcome Soirée for nominees and guests at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence, marking the official start of AFRIMA Week.

AFRIMA President and Executive Producer, Mike Dada, highlighted the growing global influence of African music, noting that the event demonstrates the power of the creative economy. The visiting crowd comprises 732 artistes and managers, 301 delegates from across Africa and the diaspora, and 183 technical production professionals.

Dada said the awards foster integration, peace, and economic growth, emphasizing music’s role as a unifying force across the continent and beyond. “What matters is the talent and the shared humanity in all of us,” he added.

He also expressed gratitude to AFRIMA partners, including First Bank, Guinness, Glenfiddich, and the Swedish and UK governments, acknowledging their contributions to making the event a success. British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter praised the rise of African artistes on the global stage, noting Afrobeats’ increasing dominance in the UK and worldwide charts.

Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, reiterated Lagos’ position as Africa’s cultural capital, emphasizing the state’s commitment to supporting a thriving creative ecosystem where talent can flourish and compete globally.