The African Union Commission, AUC, the Republic of Senegal, and the International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, have disclosed plans for the eighth AFRIMA event.

In a statement released on Sunday in Lagos, Communications Manager for AFRIMA, Chinonso Ihekire, stated this.

Ihekire announced that Senegal would host the eighth AFRIMA from January 12–15, 2023.

He said;

The government of Senegal has accepted and undertaken to host the eighth edition of AFRIMA.

The awards ceremony will now be held from January 12 to 15, 2023, in Dakar, Senegal; shifting the previous date up by four weeks as jointly announced by the International Committee of AFRIMA, the AUC and the Republic of Senegal.

This also means that the voting deadline for the nominees will now be shifted till January 13, 2023, at 23.00 CAT.

This will be the first time the main awards ceremony will be held in a francophone country after past editions

The African Union was pleased to host the awards in a francophone area, according to AUC’s Head of the Culture Division of the Social Affairs Department, Angela Martins.

She pointed out that the Republic of Senegal would be hosting AFRIMA while it was still in office as the African Union’s chair.

Martins stated that it was an appropriate time to highlight the rich arts, culture, and tradition of Africa as it was about to end its chairmanship.

Senegal’s Minister of Tourism and Air Transport, Mr. Alioune Sarr, stated in his acceptance speech that “Now Sénégal is also positioning herself to become the champions of music because we are hosting the eighth AFRIMA.”

Senegal’s Minister of Culture and Communication, Aliou Sow, said, “I feel honoured to be representing the Minister of Culture, alongside my colleague at this event in preparation for the eighth edition of AFRIMA Awards in Sénégal.