The International Committee for the All Africa Music Awards said in Lagos on Thursday it had received 2, 558 entries for the 2015 edition.
According to the organisers, the entries by African artistes were received on the AFRIMA website and social media platforms as well as from record companies and entertainment journalists.
Also submitted were works from artistes in the Diaspora.
All the works to be considered must have been produced between May 31, 2014 and July 31, 2015 according to the stipulated guidelines by the academy of the jury of AFRIMA.
Steve Ayorinde, the Chairman of the International Media Committee of AFRIMA, said the development had shown the importance that had now been attached to the programme.
Ayorinde said: “The international committee is excited about the quality of entries received this year as many are from accomplished artistes in African music.
“The impressive number of entries received is a reflection of growth and acceptability of the vision and ideals of AFRIMA’s commitment to communicate Africa to the rest of the world via art, music, tourism and entertainment.”
Ayorinde said the entries received this year were progressively higher than the 2,025 entries received for the 2014 edition.
Out of the entries received this year, 73 were from music and entertainment journalists across Africa, while entries from artistes, songwriters, video directors, music producers and record companies made up the rest.
As part of the adjudication process, which will last for seven days, the submitted works will be screened by a 13-man jury panel, representing the five regions of Africa and the Diaspora.
There will be representatives from Kenya, Senegal, Republic of Benin, Uganda, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon, UK and US as well as a representative from the African Union.
Following the adjudication process, a nomination list will be released to the public on a later date in August 2015, to vote for a nominee in each of the 33 categories of the award.
The founder of the awards, Mike Dada, also revealed that this year’s event would hold on November 15 in Nigeria.
Dada added that it would be preceded by the AFRIMA Music Village, a two-day event of music festivities featuring national pavilions, cultural/entertainment exhibitions and music concerts between November 13 and 14.
There will also be an Africa Music Summit on November 13 with the theme: “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this is the second edition of AFRIMA.
This year’s edition of the awards is in partnership with African Union Commission, ONE Campaign and Africa 2.0.
NAN.