Mandela, Obasanjo, wa Thiong o, Tutu,others for AFRIMA PATRONS

Ahead of the maiden edition of the All African Music Awards, AFRIMA,a continental showpiece to celebrate the rich musical heritage of Africaand her talented artistes for the economic growth of the continent, theInternational Committee of AFRIMA has thrown open the process by whichmembers of the Board of Patrons for Afrima, will emerge.The six patrons to make up the board would be selected by popular votesfrom the long list of illustrious Africans who have distinguished themselvesin various spheres of human endeavour and social-economic life such asgovernance,  arts  and  entertainment,  philanthropy,  business,  academiaand social advocacy. African citizens living on the continent or abroad, who are 50 years andabove, qualify for nominations. However, incumbent public office holdersare ineligible for consideration. According to  a  press  release signed by a  member  of  the  InternationalCommittee  and  Chairman,  Media  Committee  for  AFRIMA,  Mr.  Steve
Ayorinde,
“The entire process to select the six patrons must be devoid of politics,  prejudice  or  personal  interest.  Anything  short  of  meritorious appointment  can  taint  the  awards  project  and  rob  it  of  its  vaunted integrity and independence.“We want Africa to make this decision of choosing ‘their patrons’ for ‘their award’, rather than have patrons rammed down their throats”Another member of the International Committee and AFRIMA’s Director of Brand Communications and Sponsorship, Ms. Matlou Tsotetsi, said further that the African public would play a vital role in selecting the six patrons in consonance with the core values of AFRIMA –FACE IT  which stands for Fairness,  Authenticity, Creativity,  Excellence,  Integrity and Transparency. “It is essential that persons nominated as AFRIMA patrons embody FACE IT in their personal and professional life, as well as also bringing it to bear in their advisory capacity for the ennobling awards project”, Tsotetsi stated. After  strategic  meetings,  consultations  with  key  stakeholders  and suggestions from African music lovers, a long list of 15 nominees has been unveiled by the International Committee.  “This first list of nominees is just a guide to streamline the process and give direction so people are not nominating from an uninformed perspective”, explained Ayorinde. The first list of nominees for the AFRIMA Board of Patrons are: Desmond Tutu  (South  Africa),  Olusegun  Obasanjo  (Nigeria),  Winnie  Madikizela–Mandela (South Africa), Kofi Annan (Ghana), Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (Kenya),Mohammed  ‘Mo’  Ibrahim  (Sudan),  Emeka  Anyaoku  (Nigeria),  PatriceMotsepe  (South  Africa),  Alpha  Oumar  Konare  (Mali),  Dame  PatienceJonathan  (Nigeria),  Martha  Namundjebo-Tilahun (Namibia),  MohammedIbn-Chambas (Ghana), Joaquim Alberto Chissano (Mozambique), Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia) and Bola Tinubu (Nigeria).Since it is an all-inclusive African project with exciting programmes in the build up to the main awards ceremony on October 25, 2014, fans and followers  of  African music  and culture  on the continent  or  abroad can begin to send in their nominations to be added to the unveiled list. The maximum number of nominees on the long list will not exceed 50 names.“And, discussions are ongoing with most of the nominees who are glad about  the  reception  and  enthusiasm  shown  by  Africans  so  far”,  said Tsotetsi Sending names of nominees for the AFRIMA Board of Patrons opens to the public on AFRIMA website  www.afrima.org on Monday, February 10 and closes  on  Friday,  March  7.  Entries  are  to  be  sent  in  this  format:  The nominee’s full name, country of birth, age and reason why this person fits the bill  of  being named AFRIMA Patron in  not  more than one hundred words.Entries will also be accepted on other AFRIMA social media platforms likeTwitter: @afrimawards and Facebook: www.facebook.com/AFRIMA  2014   Voting for the final six patrons will commence shortly after nominations close  at  a  date  to  be  communicated  subsequently,  according  to  the release.The 2014 All Africa Music Awards will produce a star-studded, world-class event  to  be  held  in  Nigeria  on  Saturday,  October  25,  2014,  with  live performances and television broadcast to 84 countries on 109 television stations around the world.