LAGOS: The 13-member International Jury for the 2025 All Africa Music Awards AFRIMA has arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, to begin a week-long adjudication session.
The jury’s task is to screen thousands of music entries submitted from across Africa and the diaspora to determine this year’s nominees.
According to a statement from the organizers, the adjudication process, which runs from August 8 to August 16, will culminate in the announcement of the AFRIMA 2025 Nominees List.
The jury will review songs, albums and music videos from a wide range of creative professionals, including artists, producers, directors and songwriters.
Meanwhile, the organizers confirmed there would be no extension for the submission of entries, which officially closed on Friday, August 8.
This year’s AFRIMA, themed “Unstoppable Africa,” is a partnership with the African Union, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Lagos State as the official host city.
The awards will celebrate African music across more than 40 categories, showcasing talent from various regions and genres.
Ms. Hadja Kobele, who represents the African Diaspora (North America) on the jury, spoke about the team’s commitment to a credible and transparent process.
“We take this job very seriously,” Kobele stated. “Each entry submitted, whether it comes from a household name or an emerging voice, will be assessed strictly on merit. Our criteria are clear: musical quality, originality, impact, and cultural relevance.”
She added that the process is not about industry politics or social media popularity. “AFRIMA isn’t about industry politics or social media popularity; it’s about honouring the music, the message, and the creators behind it,” she said.
“The whole continent is watching and we have to ensure that only the most deserving talents and works are nominated. This is a celebration of African excellence, and we are committed to making sure that the process remains fair, credible, and free of bias. No shortcuts, no sentiment, just pure, honest work in service of African music.”
The AFRIMA jury consists of 13 respected professionals, including music executives, cultural experts, journalists and producers.
This year, three new jury members have been added to the panel: Marwane Fachane from Morocco (North Africa), Lucy Ilado from Kenya (East Africa) and Messie Mboukou from Congo Brazzaville (Central Africa).
Olisa Adibua will serve as the Jury-in-Charge, with Emil Ngumbah representing Central Africa and Vicensia Shule representing the African Union.
Other jury members include Joett from Tanzania, Hossam El Gamal from Egypt, Delani Makhalima of Zimbabwe, Adam Tiran of South Africa, Motolani Alake from Nigeria, and Guy Neza from Côte d’Ivoire.
Following the adjudication, the full list of nominees will be announced on August 24, marking the beginning of the voting period.
From September 5, the AFRIMA Academy and the public will be able to vote for their favourites on the official AFRIMA website, with voting closing 24 hours before the awards ceremony on November 30.
The results will be audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers to ensure transparency.
AFRIMA 2025 will be held in Lagos from November 25 to 30, with a series of events including the Africa Music Business Summit and a Music Village Concert, culminating in the grand Awards Night.
The show will be broadcast live in over 84 countries worldwide.
