By Chrysanthus Ikeh
The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in partnership with African Union Commission has unveiled the jury members convened to render an impartial verdict at the 2014 awards.
At the press conference, which took place on Tuesday, August 5, 2014, at Ibis hotel, Ikeja, nine of the 13 person jury panel of professional media personalities were unveiled.
Check out the list
Laolu ‘Akins’ Akintobi – representing West Africa (Nigeria)
Laolu Akins is a veteran Nigerian musician, producer and composer who has produced for some Nigeria A- List musical artistes like Onyeka Onwenu, Shina Peters,Psquare, Orlando Julius, Ekemode and host of others.
He is the head of operations at Excel Pro-Audio Resources, an independent artistes & music production enterprise.
‘I feel privileged and I feel proud to be among the jury for the AFRIMA awards; obviously my contribution to the industry has been noted so they feel there is something I can bring to the table’
Rab Bakari – representing Diaspora (USA)
Rab Bakari is a Ghanaian/American DJ/Music producer and the co-founder of Hiplife in West Africa. He started his career in the 1970s setting up his first Hip Hop/ hiplife record label Kassa Records in Ghana, after which he also helped to establish four radio stations: Choice FM, Vibe FM, Groove FM and Joy FM.
Rab is currently a promoter of West African Anglophone rap, RnB and alternative music in Africa and Europe under Mixerpot.
‘I’m pleased to be involved this great project, I just have to contribute my best to the success of the project’
Delani Makhalima – representing Southern Africa (Zimbabwe)
Delani Makhalima is a well known media executive who has been a radio DJ, songwriter and on air personality. He is also a non-executive director of MusixNation , a media entertainment company based in South Africa. He is presently the head of production and an on air personality at ZiFM stereo in Zimbabwe.
‘It’s a huge pleasure being part of this project with great professionals in the music industry’
Christian Syren – representing Southern Africa (South Africa)
Christian Syren is a Swedish music professional based in South Africa. He is the co- founder and director of Making Music Production (MMP), an event and project management in South Africa.
Tabu Osusa – representing East Africa (Kenya)
Tabu Osusa is a Kenyan promoter, producer and composer, who is also the founding executive director of Ketebul music.
He has reportedly played key roles in shaping the careers of top Kenyan artistes in his country, including, Orchestra Virunga, The Nairobi city Ensemble, Iddi Achieng, Makadem, Suzanna Owiyo, Olith Ratego, Ogoya Nengo, Gargar, Winyo and others.
Kawesa Richard – representing East Africa (Uganda)
Kawesa Richard is a renowned music producer and performer from Uganda who started his music career at the age of 10.
He is also a social entrepreneur who later went into part-time consultancy and was made the production consultant for the movie ‘The Last King of Scotland’ portraying the life and times of the third president of Uganda, Major Gen. Idi Amin.
Rita Ray – representing Diaspora (UK)
Rita Ray is a popular club DJ and a regular contributor and presenter on World Routes on BBC Radio 3 and The Art Hour.
She also researched and presented ‘The Musical Legacy of Slavery’ series for BBC World service and her award winning documentary ‘A short History of 5 Notes’.
Oscar J.F. Kidjo – representing West Africa (Benin Republic)
Oscar is a veteran African musician and composer who produced most of the jingles for Benin National Radio and TV.
He is an alumnus of Berklee College of music, Boston and studied Management of recording industries at Boston University.
Kidjo runs his own recording studio and record production company named PHONOVISION S.A.RL.
Robert Esong Ekukole – representing Central Africa (Cameroon)
Robert Ekukole is a prolific TV producer and broadcaster with a national Cameroon Radio, TV network (CRTV), where he serves as the Director of TV programmes and production.
He won the Cameroon press awards for Best TV documentary and best TV producer in 2000 and 2001.
‘It is a wonderful honor for me, it feels great’
The theme for this year is ‘Reviving the Business of Music in Africa’
AFRIMA is a platform for music industry members to engage and deliberate on how the industry can be nurtured and packaged in a way that contributes to the GDP of the continent.
