R2Bees, Becca, Sarkodie others for 2017 AFRIMA Awards - Full List

Ghanaian artistes have been shortlisted for the 2017 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) scheduled for 12th of November, 2017 in Lagos, Nigeria.

In the ten categories panning award music from the Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Africa, Ghana was quite represented by top acts who are possible game for the trophy.

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Rapper Sarkodie will compete for the “Best Male Artiste in West Africa” with the likes of Davido, Wizkid, Runtown, Tekno, Mr. Eazi among others.

Music sensation Becca would also be battling for the trophy in the “Best Female Artiste in West Africa” as well as the “Best African Collaboration” categories, which also has another Ghanaian-born UK-based star Fuse ODG.

Dark Suburb scored two nominations in the “Album of the Year” and “Best Artiste in African Rock”, a category they share with Wiyaala. Music duo R2Bees have also been shortlisted in the “Best African Collaboration” and the “Best African Group” with their hit track “Tonight.”

The “African Fans’ Favourite” category has Hip life newbie Ebony hoping to the “Best Artist in Jazz” category with Khalisax, and the “Best Artiste/Group in African Reggae, Ragga & Dancehall” which features Jah Phinga with his track ‘One World, One People’ and self-acclaimed Dancehall King, Shatta Wale with his “Taking Over” hit track.

It’s rather unfortunate Ghana didn’t get any nomination in the “Artiste of the Year” category.

Commenting on the awards event, Don Obilor, Chief Executive Officer of Adams 360, a brand communication agency, who also doubles as an International Committee member and the West African Regional Director of AFRIMA, believes the awards represent the biggest platform for high-flying African musicians to be rewarded and recognized for their talents.

“African musicians create some of the best music in the world but their toils, hitherto, went unrewarded due to the absence of a huge, credible and home-grown awards platform” he says. “So the solution to this is AFRIMA, and since 2014, AFRIMA has been rewarding exceptional talent all across the African continent,” he said.

“By rewarding talent and hardwork”, Don reiterates, “not only is AFRIMA contributing to growing and developing talents on the continent, but it is also promoting cultural development with a direct link to economic growth,” Don added.

to glorious pinnacles beyond the borders of Africa.

As a result of its underlying objective to promote and grow African music and culture, the awards body has been partnered by the African Union (AU) and this year’s programme will see the AU playing a key role.

This year’s AFRIMA Awards is a full-package programme spiced with a lot of pre-event activities including a one-day open festival-like music concert, and a one-day conference dubbed ‘Africa Music Business Roundtable,’ a platform for players in the music industry to engage and deliberate on how the industry can contribute to the growth of the respective economies of countries on the continent.

Check out the full list of nominess from the regional categories below.