The All Africa Music Award is set to launch the AFRIMA Kreative Academy, an initiative aimed at empowering 1.2 million young Africans over the next five years through education, skills development, and job creation in the creative sector.
The disclosure was made on Wednesday in a statement shared with The PUNCH. The project, themed ‘Learn and Prosper,’ targets Africans aged between 18 and 35, with a focus on underserved and vulnerable communities across the continent.
The AFRIMA Founder and Executive Producer, Mike Dada, said the initiative was born from over two decades of experience in the creative industry, noting that despite the abundance of talent across Africa, a significant gap remains in structured training and access to opportunities.
“This is our response to the urgent need for practical learning and job creation in the music and creative industry space,” Dada said.
It explained that TAKA would provide world-class training across key areas of the music ecosystem and value chain, including music production, music business and entrepreneurship, event technical production, digital technology, and the Internet of Things.
According to Dada, the academy will operate three training cycles each year, with each cycle lasting four months. To ensure quality delivery, AFRIMA will engage top music producers, artists, sound engineers, and event professionals from Africa and the diaspora to serve as trainers, mentors, and employers.
“Beyond skill acquisition, TAKA is expected to drive broader social and economic benefits, including improved knowledge and capacity among young creatives, increased job creation, the promotion of African culture, and overall economic empowerment that will drive a prosperous Africa,” Dada said.
He called on investors, development partners, governments, and the corporate sector to support the initiative. “If Africa wants to keep competing at the global level in the music and cultural industry, we must do more than just celebrate talent. We have to invest in training and preparing our young people for real opportunities in the industry,” he said.
Dada added that AFRIMA plans to build strategic global partnerships, establish an endowment fund, and foster long-term impact through services rendered by the academy.
AFRIMA’s Regional Director for Central Africa, Nde Ndifonka, revealed that the music awards platform plans to launch a global tour in 2026. “We’re excited to share that starting in 2026, this global tour will become a major part of AFRIMA’s yearly activities,” Ndifonka said.
He explained that the tour would feature live mega shows, performances, and cultural events in major cities across Africa and beyond. “Music concerts and tours are important for building a strong music industry. They give artists the chance to perform live, connect with fans, earn money, and sharpen their stage skills,” he said.
According to him, the 2025 edition of AFRIMA, which kicked off last Tuesday with the unveiling of the calendar and host city at the African Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will culminate in the Awards Week from November 25 to 30.
The lineup includes the Diamond Showcase, Africa Music Business Summit, Nominees Party, Music Village Festival, and the Main Awards Ceremony on November 30, which will be broadcast live on over 84 TV stations and digital platforms worldwide.
