AU, AFRIMA back intellectual property rights
The 26th Assembly of the African Union established PAIPO in January 2016.
The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, is a music property developed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical culture of Africa, stimulate conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the globe about the great potential and values of the African culture and artistic heritage for the purpose of creating jobs, reducing poverty, calling attention of world leaders to Africa and promoting the positive image of Africa to the world.
The conference, which was part of activities marking the 10th anniversary of the AU Youth Charter, had the theme, ‘Using Music, Culture and Entertainment as tools for a new Africa’. In a keynote address, Martins maintained that PAIPO is one of AU's continental tools to help protect and promote, not only the rich African culture, but intellectual works of talented artistes on the continent.
She said: "The mandate of the African Union is related to the development of continental policies in the various developmental sectors. The continental policies of the culture division include, the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance (adopted by the AU Assembly in Khartoum in January 2006); the African Union Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries of 2008; and the most recent AU Framework for Development - the African Union Agenda 2063, which has a strong component on culture and heritage issues.
"Another continental tool is the adoption by the 26th Assembly of the African Union in January 2016 of the establishment of the Pan-African Intellectual Property Organization (PAIPO). This achievement is worth noting because it is aimed at playing a greater role in the protection of the work of artists in line with the work the AFRIMA is doing for the promotion of African artistes."
Martins eulogised the activities of AFRIMA and its stance on promoting culture through music and recognition of talents on the continent.
"The African Union Commission cherishes the collaboration it has with Pan-African Cultural Institutions like AFRIMA since they partner with the AU Member States in the implementation of continental policies in this case in the areas of arts, culture and heritage. Our collaboration with AFRIMA started in 2014. And we have since witnessed two editions of the All Africa Music Awards (in 2014 and 2015) events which recognised the value of African artistes and promoted African music both in the continent and internationally.”
The AU representative also disclosed that partnering AFRIMA in its continental policy implementation has placed African music and talents on a global pedestal, a move that has helped boost job creation and social development in the continent.
However, the economic power of culture and African music must be harnessed. This was highlighted in a paper presentation by Now Muzik managing director, Efe Omoregbe. According to him, the rich African cultural heritage, awe-inspiring totems, mind-blowing music, and exciting dance moves must be explored in order to allow growth in the continent' economies and deliver wealth to the people.
Omoregbe highlighted challenges: the regulatory environment; infrastructure and facilities; education and training of practitioners and policy makers; and having an effective system for the
collective management of copyright.
Also delivering a paper at the conference was the regional director for North Africa, AFRIMA, Brahim El Hazned. He noted that a change would be experienced through the involvement and impact of both the local and international media, radio, television and the internet. He also pointed out that other agents of change, who can make an impact, such as international non-profit organisations and state/local governments.
The 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) is now open for entry. Entries close on 30 July 2016. The full list of nominees will be announced on August 17, 2016 and public voting occurs 26 August – 5 November 2016.
The grand finale, the AFRIMA awards ceremony, which is the third edition, will be held in Nigeria on Sunday, 6 November 2016. The eventual host city in Nigeria will be announced later in the year by the African Union.
AFRIMA is centred on the promotion and marketing of African music and is by far the largest gathering of such magnitude of stakeholders in Africa and hosting is earnestly sought by different African countries due to the great leveraging opportunities that the platform provides. It will be broadcast to 84 countries around the world.
