The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), in partnership with the African Union (AU), has unveiled the official global calendar for its landmark 10th edition in Los Angeles, California, United States.
The unveiling, held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Beverly Hills, brought together creative industry leaders, artists, actors, investors, policymakers, media executives and members of the African diaspora.
The Los Angeles event represents another major step in AFRIMA’s efforts to connect African music and talent with the global entertainment industry, while creating opportunities for investment, partnerships and collaboration between Africa and the international creative economy.
As part of the programme, AFRIMA also hosted its Creative Industry Roundtable and Stakeholders Conference under the theme, “Catalyst for Collaboration & Investment in the Global Creative Industry.”
The conference provided a platform for industry stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening collaboration, increasing investment and expanding international support for Africa’s growing creative economy.
According to AFRIMA, the Los Angeles engagement forms part of preparations for its 10th edition and follows earlier build-up activities held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; and Rabat and Casablanca, Morocco.
AFRIMA said the various engagements were designed to connect with stakeholders and generate momentum ahead of the landmark edition.
Over the years, the organisation has unveiled its global calendar in different African cities, including The Gambia, Ghana, South Africa, Dakar in Senegal, Lagos in Nigeria, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The awards ceremonies have also been hosted in major African cities, including Lagos, Accra and Dakar, reflecting AFRIMA’s pan-African character and its stated commitment to taking African music to different parts of the world.
AFRIMA said its move to Los Angeles was particularly significant because of the city’s position as one of the world’s leading entertainment and creative centres, as well as its large and influential African diaspora community.
Speaking ahead of the event, AFRIMA Associate Co-Producer and member of the International Jury representing North America, Ms. Hadja Kobele, said the Los Angeles engagement could strengthen connections between African creatives, industry professionals, investors and the diaspora.
Kobele described the 10th AFRIMA Global Calendar Unveiling in Los Angeles as an important moment for the African creative ecosystem and diaspora.
She said bringing AFRIMA to a global entertainment centre such as Los Angeles creates opportunities to build stronger bridges between African creatives, industry professionals, investors and the diaspora community.
She also stressed the importance of the African diaspora in North America in promoting African music, opening new markets and creating opportunities for collaboration.
According to her, the engagement would help deepen that relationship and give African creativity greater visibility on the global stage.
Also speaking on the stakeholders’ conference, AFRIMA Associate Producer, Ms. Victoria Nkong, said the engagement would go beyond unveiling the calendar by providing room for practical discussions and partnerships capable of supporting the creative industry.
Nkong described the creative industry as one of Africa’s strongest assets, but said its full potential could only be realised through appropriate platforms for collaboration, investment and shared knowledge.
She said the Los Angeles conference was designed to bring together the right people and institutions to discuss practical ways of building stronger connections between Africa and the global creative economy.
“As we unveil the calendar for the 10th AFRIMA, we are also opening conversations about the future of the industry, the opportunities available to investors and the partnerships needed to create sustainable growth for artists, businesses and creative professionals,” she said.
The official global calendar unveiling is expected to provide stakeholders, artists, nominees, partners and fans with a clearer picture of the activities and milestones leading to the 10th AFRIMA Main Awards ceremonies.
Abuja Network News
Tags
Entertainment