Following the successful staging of the 9th All Africa Music Awards in Lagos, preparations for the milestone 10th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) have gathered momentum, with the International Committee embarking on a strategic continental tour in partnership with the African Union Commission.
After a productive stop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, last month, the campaign train now moves to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where the International Committee of AFRIMA will host a high-level Media and Stakeholders’ Parley on February 17, 2026.
The Dar es Salaam parley attracted leading artistes, policymakers, industry executives and government officials who evaluated the impact of AFRIMA on Africa’s music ecosystem and explored pathways for deeper continental collaboration. Among the artistes in attendance were Tanzanian stars Juma Jux and Folex, both of whom are past winners.
Building on that engagement, the Abidjan gathering is expected to draw top creatives and cultural stakeholders from Francophone West Africa and beyond, as AFRIMA consolidates partnerships ahead of its 10th anniversary edition.
Several winners from the 9th edition are billed to attend the Abidjan parley, including Ivorian rapper Didi B, who won Best African Lyricist/Rapper; Milo, winner of Best Male African Inspirational Music; Team Paiya, which clinched Best African Duo, Group or Band; and Morijah, who emerged Best Female African Inspirational Music.
Also expected at the event is Algerian DJ Moh Green, recipient of the Best African DJ Award.
The award winners, alongside members of the AFRIMA International Committee and other stakeholders, will share their experiences and insights on the significance of an African-owned and African-focused global music platform. Discussions will also centre on why Africans must embrace and elevate institutions that authentically project the continent’s culture and identity.
Speaking ahead of the event, Guy Neza, an Ivorian and member of the AFRIMA International Jury, described the Abidjan parley as a strategic step in the build-up to the 10th edition.
According to him, the engagement is designed to strengthen collaboration with government institutions and key industry players across Francophone West Africa and other regions, while providing direction on expanding AFRIMA’s global footprint.
He noted that the platform will also educate stakeholders and the public on AFRIMA’s transparent selection process, which begins with entry submissions, followed by nominations by a 13-man International Jury, and culminates in voting by the Academy of Voters and fans.
Neza said the event underscores AFRIMA’s commitment to amplifying the voice of Francophone Africa within the continental and global music industry.
“Francophone Africa has always been rich in rhythm, culture and innovation, from Côte d’Ivoire’s Coupé-Décalé to Senegal’s mbalax and the urban fusions emerging from the DRC, Mali, Cameroon and beyond. It is time the rest of the continent and the world experience this dynamism at full volume,” he said.
The Abidjan parley will feature live performances, industry conversations and interactive question-and-answer sessions involving AFRIMA officials, past winners, nominees and other creative professionals.
As preparations intensify, the upcoming 10th edition is being positioned not just as another awards ceremony, but as a symbolic celebration of a decade of advancing African music on the global stage.