MEET THE AFRIMA JURY

The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) Jury is a 13-man body representing the five regions of Africa, the diaspora (Europe and North America) and the African Union Commission who are tasked with the responsibility of screening, categorising, assessing, grading, selecting and announcing the nominees into the 36 Regional and Continental awarding categories who will vie for the 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy.

The 13-man Jury is made up of two representatives per region (Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western) of Africa, one each representing Europe and North America for diaspora and one representing the African Union Commission.

The AFRIMA Jury represents the core values of the All Africa Music Awards which is FACE-IT: Fairness, Authenticity, Creativity, Excellence, Integrity and Transparency. They are bringing their span of experience and professionalism to play.

Representing EASTERN AFRICA on the panel is Tanzania’s Joett, a veteran vocal coach and artiste development manager whose songwriting skills earned him registered membership of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). On the other hand is Tabu Osusa from Kenya. He is a veteran music professional who has spent more than three decades in music production and promotion. He has chaired several musical projects within and outside Africa.

Representing CENTRAL AFRICA from Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, is Charles Tabu, a Music Executive, with wide experience in artiste management and promotion. Charles has worked with major record labels across the continent including Sony, Universal, and Warner. The second jury member for Central Africa is Bob Ekukole, a renowned Cameroonian media, and music professional with 29 years of experience in media and broadcasting. He is currently the Director, TV Programmes and Production, Cameroon Radio and Television, CRTV.

NORTHERN AFRICA is represented by Omar Essaidi, a Moroccan music programmer and artistic director. He brings to bear his practical experience as a judge/jury for several musical contests in Northern Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA’S music professional, Chris Syren who is the co-founder and director of Making Music Productions (MMP), a music production company that has played a vital role in music promotion in South Africa and the region. Filling the other slot for Southern Africa is Zimbabwean radio DJ, Delani Makhalima. The entertainment & media executive has also honed his professional experience in songwriting and music composition in the region.

WESTERN AFRICA representatives include Olisa Adibua, prolific broadcaster, music executive and talent manager from Nigeria and David Tayorault, a Côte d’Ivoire music legend, whose work in the music industry has influenced the jazz, blues, soul, zouk and Brazilian samba genre in Western Africa countries.

Representing the Diaspora-Europe is Rita Ray, a UK-based BBC Radio 3 presenter, International Music Curator, and popular Club DJ Europe. Her counterpart representing Diaspora-North America is Hadja Kobélé Keita, a music executive whose career spans experience in Artiste and Repertoire management and Public Relations with Universal Music Africa/Island Africa.

The African Union Commission is represented by Angela Martins, professional African Culture Analyst and African music enthusiast. Angela Martins is the Head, Culture Division, African Union Commission.