All Road Leads to AFRIMA 2015

The very best of the best in African music are all in Lagos, Nigeria,
right now. Not for any other reason but
for the All Africa Music Awards, which will be making
its second outing in Nigeria. The venue is Eko Hotel,
Victoria Island, and the occasion promises to be
nothing but a musical jamboree and a celebration of
African cultures, talents and artistic values. The 2014 edition pretty
much reaffirmed Nigeria's
position as the hub of African music as our musical
acts dominated the winners' list. Nigerian artistes
took home the highest number of trophies, 13 in total,
with the Aye crooner, Davido, carting away four of the
coveted 29.3 carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophies. Davido won The Best
African Hip Hop, Song of the
Year; Artiste of the Year, and Best Male Artiste in West
Africa. Shakiti Bobo crooner, Olamide came home with
the coveted Album of the Year award while the
sensational twins, P-Square got the Best African Group
award. Don Jazzy, Brymo, Bez, 2Face, D'banj, Yinka Ayanda,
Nikki Laoye, and Fela Anikulapo Kuti (Posthumous
Legendary award) were all winners on the night. Out of the 23
continental awards given out, Nigeria
was victorious in 12 and also clinched one of the two
regional awards applicable to the country. But the big question on the
lips of many, is: Will they
repeat the same feat or achieve more this year? From
the look of things, with the chips all square and fair,
the country should equal or even surpass the feat of
last year, which was the maiden edition of the award. Nigeria has
nominations in all the 24 categories
applicable to the country except in the categories:
Best African Hip Hop, Best African Rock and Best
African Traditional Music. It means the country is open
to collect 21 awards, where in most cases they
dominate the Nominees list. Of all the 174 nominations in which the
country is eligible, it has 63 nominations. Without demeaning any
category of the award, there
are the big ones which the whole continent and the
world look forward to. These are: Best Album of the
Year, Best Song of the Year, Best Artiste of the Year
and possibly the Best Group of the Year. Last year,
Nigerian artistes won them all. Olamide's Baddest Guy Ever Liveth, won
the Album of the Year Award,
while Davido won both the Song of the Year with Aye
and Artiste of the Year awards. P-Square clinched the
Best Group award. For AFRIMA 2015 Nigerian artistes are again in pole
position to win in all of these four categories. Psquare
has been nominated again for the Best Group award
category. For the Album of the Year, Wizkid, Psquare,
Yemi Alade, Brymo, and Flavour have been nominated
alongside 4 other Africans. Davido, Yemi Alade, Wizkid and Psquare
will battle 6 other Africans for the Song
of the Year. For the Artiste of the Year, Davido,
Flavour, Olamide, Wizkid, and Yemi Alade go in tango
with 5 other African artistes. With these stakes in our favour,
Nigeria sure looks
good for another round of awards haul.
9ja for life!