AFRIMA takes its 10th-edition calendar launch to Los Angeles
AFRIMA and the African Union are unveiling the global calendar for the awards’ 10th edition in Beverly Hills, pairing the announcement with an industry conference aimed at investment and diaspora partnerships.
A milestone staged in an entertainment capital
The All Africa Music Awards and the African Union are using a Beverly Hills gathering on Sunday, September 20, to unveil the global calendar for AFRIMA’s 10th edition. The Los Angeles event pairs the announcement with a creative-industry roundtable and stakeholders conference focused on collaboration and investment.pmnewsnigeria
Organizers say the calendar will map the activities and milestones leading to the main awards ceremonies. The choice of Southern California places that rollout near a large African diaspora and one of the world’s most influential entertainment industries, while moving an AFRIMA calendar unveiling beyond the African cities that traditionally hosted it.pmnewsnigeria
The road to the 10th edition crosses continents
The launch follows “RoadTo10thAFRIMA” engagements in Dar es Salaam, Abidjan, Rabat and Casablanca. Previous calendar announcements took place in countries including Ghana, Senegal, South Africa and The Gambia, as well as at African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa; the principal ceremonies have rotated among Lagos, Accra and Dakar.pmnewsnigeria
That history makes Los Angeles less a relocation than a bid to widen the awards’ commercial and cultural network. AFRIMA associate co-producer Hadja Kobele said the engagement is intended to connect African creatives with industry professionals, investors and the diaspora, while associate producer Victoria Nkong framed the conference as a venue for practical partnerships.pmnewsnigeria
African music’s Hollywood moment grows
The announcement arrives amid a visible run of African recognition in Los Angeles. Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in August, becoming the first Black African artist honored there.english +1 The five-time Grammy winner told the BBC that durable change takes time, while Recording Academy chief Harvey Mason Jr. praised her ability to connect cultures and cross borders.bbc
African artists have also become increasingly prominent in American awards. Tems led African nominees for the 2026 BET Awards with three nominations, while Tyla received two and Wizkid, Asake and Burna Boy also appeared among the nominees.allafrica Earlier in the year, the Recording Academy gave a posthumous lifetime achievement award to Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, whose children accepted the honor in Los Angeles.billboard
AFRIMA says its broadcasts reach more than 84 countries.pmnewsnigeria The test for the anniversary edition will be whether a high-profile Hollywood stop produces more than visibility: new financing, distribution links and durable partnerships for artists and businesses across Africa’s creative economy.