Music, culture and high-level dialogue took centre stage in Abidjan on Tuesday as Francophone stakeholders gathered for the Road to the 10th Edition Media and Stakeholders’ Parley of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).
The Abidjan gathering, the second stop in the global countdown to AFRIMA’s landmark 10th edition, delivered a strong message: Côte d’Ivoire is positioning itself as a future host of Africa’s premier music awards and a major hub for Francophone creative excellence.
The event drew participation from government officials, cultural leaders, artistes, and media executives, reflecting Abidjan’s growing ambition to anchor AFRIMA activities in Francophone Africa.
Speaking at the parley, Serge Akpatou, Deputy Director General of the Ivorian Bureau of Copyright (BURIDA), emphasized AFRIMA’s impact on the continent’s creative ecosystem.
“AFRIMA adds real value to Africa’s creative ecosystem. It promotes our artistes, strengthens intellectual property awareness and connects us to the rest of the world. Abidjan has the capacity and the cultural depth to host a future edition, and we sincerely hope that opportunity will come,” he said.
Echoing this sentiment, the Representative of the Minister of Culture and Francophonie, Hein Sie, described AFRIMA as a strategic instrument for cultural diplomacy and economic advancement.
“Events like AFRIMA are important for our continental visibility. They celebrate African excellence, create opportunities for our creatives, and reinforce our identity. Côte d’Ivoire is proud of its artistes who have excelled on a massive platform like AFRIMA, and we are ready to support initiatives that position our country as a creative force,” he stated.
Leading AFRIMA’s International Executive Committee at the event were Associate Producer Victoria Nkong and International Jury Member Messie Mboukou. They were joined by winners from the 9th AFRIMA edition, including Didi B (Best African Lyricist/Rapper), Milo (Best Male African Inspirational Music), Morijah (Best Female African Inspirational Music), and Team Paiya (Best African Duo, Group, or Band). Also present were Axel Merryl from Benin and DJ Moh Green from Algeria.
In his welcome remarks, Mboukou underscored the importance of collaboration as the awards approach their 10th edition.
“This gathering is not only about celebration. It is about dialogue, transparency and building stronger bridges between artistes, the media, cultural institutions, policymakers and AFRIMA.
As we approach the 10th edition, continuous collaboration with Francophone Africa is vital so we are not left out of the AFRIMA movement,” he said.
Addressing questions about the awards process, he reiterated that the adjudication system remains credible and transparent.
“The process is supervised by the African Union and independently audited by a globally reputable auditing firm.
After nominations by the 13-man AFRIMA Jury, AFRIMA Academy voters and public votes, the final results are exclusively collated by professional auditors.
No one can manipulate the outcome,” Mboukou explained.
One of the event’s highlights was the formal presentation of the 9th AFRIMA Trophy for Best Female Artiste in African Inspirational to Morijah, who had missed the main ceremony for medical reasons.
Receiving her award, Morijah expressed gratitude, saying, “This award represents years of sacrifice and dedication.
I am grateful to AFRIMA and Africa for recognizing my work on such a respected global African platform.”
Other winners also reflected on the career impact of the awards. Zagba of Team Paiya admitted they did not expect to win, noting that the recognition boosted their confidence and extended their reach beyond Côte d’Ivoire.
Didi B described AFRIMA as more than an awards ceremony, highlighting the networking opportunities it created, including cross-border collaborations and music video projects.
DJ Moh Green shared his journey of persistence, revealing he was nominated four times before eventually winning, a testament to consistency and dedication.
Axel Merryl praised the AFRIMA Music Village concert experience in Lagos for expanding his audience base, while Milo said performing on such a large stage inspired him to dream bigger.
The parley also attracted key industry figures, including Margaux Demeerssseman from the French Ministry of Europe & Foreign Affairs, Angelo Kabila, President of APRODEMC, media pioneer Jhon Zairois Jay, and filmmaker Franck Vlehi.
Several artistes Elown, Kikimoteleba, Shado Christ, Fior2Bior and Rocky Gold showed support, alongside brand partners and members of the media.
The event was supported by Air Cote d’Ivoire as Official Airline Partner.
With strong institutional backing and visible industry momentum, Abidjan has made its intentions clear it is ready to play a bigger role on AFRIMA’s global stage.
