•Lagos or Guateng: Who gets the nod?
There’s palpable anxiety mixed with excitement across Africa and around the world, as the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Committee of AFRIMA announce the host city for the 2025 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) on May 13 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The last edition was held in Dakar, hosted by the government of Senegal.
Two major cities, Lagos, Nigeria and Gauteng Province, South Africa, are being considered for the rare opportunity to host the Africa’s global event. Both cities are well-known for their music and cultural scenes, enduring infrastructure for business and tourism, and ability to host and manage big international events. But, in the end, only one will get the nod.
In 2024, the African Union invited both Nigeria and South Africa, through a letter to the Governor and Premier of Lagos State and Gauteng Province respectively, to take advantage of the opportunities inherent in hosting the prestigious Africa’s global music awards -AFRIMA for the year 2025.
After months of reviews and infrastructure assessments, meetings, engagements and voting by AFRIMA’s International Committee, it’s now decision time – and one thing is certain: the winning city will play a big role in shaping the future of African music on a global stage.
Lagos: Heartbeat of Afrobeats and Innovation
Lagos lives and breathes music; it is the home of Afrobeats, the genre that has taken the world by storm. Some of Africa’s biggest stars like Femi Kuti, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Asake, Rema, and Ayra Starr among others started their journeys in this vibrant city. The energy, rhythm and passion in Lagos make it the perfect place to celebrate African music.
But Lagos offers much more than musical brilliance. Under successive leadership of the state, including the incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwoolu, the city has made tremendous strides in infrastructure and creative economy. From building a world-class urban rail network – the Lagos Blue Line and Red Line rail systems – to revamping its water transportation with modern ferries and terminals, the state is redefining African urban mobility. The city’s real estate boom is also reshaping its skyline, with modern housing estates, commercial centres, and tech hubs springing up across the metropolis without ignoring security and safety of residents and visitors.
Lagos is not new to hosting big events. From concerts to festivals, international conferences to international sporting events, the city knows how to handle big crowds. AFRIMA has been held in Lagos in the past and each time, it was a huge success. The city has the hotels, venues, infrastructure, and experience needed for a world-class show.
From the bustling markets to nightclubs, Lagos never sleeps. Visitors from across Africa and the world will enjoy its culture, food, beaches, and legendary hospitality. During AFRIMA, the city will come alive even more with parties, concerts, and lots of fun for everyone with the aim of celebrating Africa.
Guateng: Cradle of Amapiano and Cultural Legacy
Similarly, Gauteng province – made up of Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria and Soweto township – is a city deeply rooted in music. From Kwaito to the globally popular Amapiano, Gauteng has created and shaped sounds that have resonated around the world. It’s a place where music is not just entertainment – but equally a way of life, a powerful form of expression rooted in South Africa’s social and cultural history.
From the FIFA World Cup in 2010 to countless international music and film festivals like Joy of Jazz, South Africa Music Awards (SAMA), Rugby World Cup etc., Gauteng has shown it can host big events and do it well. The city knows how to welcome thousands of guests from all over the world and make them feel at home.
Both Governor Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos State and Premier Panyaza Lesufi of Gauteng are fully behind their cities. They believe hosting AFRIMA will help grow the creative industry, attract tourists, create jobs and inspire new generation of African megastars.
According to Adenrele Niyi, AFRIMA’s Chief Experience Officer (CXO), this decision is more than just about music, it’s also about making great impact.
“Hosting AFRIMA is not just about glamour or entertainment,” she said. “It’s equally about creating real impact. The event brings thousands of visitors including artists, fans, policy makers, media professionals, and investors to the host city. That means full hotels, busy restaurants, more sales for local shops, and lots of business for transport services and event planners. More importantly, however, the over 400 million expected broadcast audience globally remain a key strength of the AFRIMA legacy.”
The benefits are clear. The host city will be seen by millions around the world through TV, digital media, and global press. It also gets to organize side events like the African Music Business Summit, school outreach programmes for skill acquisition, and the fun-filled AFRIMA Music Village – all of which leave a lasting impression on the host country.
Countries that have hosted AFRIMA in the past including Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal have all seen major benefits. The 2023 event in Dakar was widely praised for its success and energy.
Now, the world is waiting. Will Lagos win with its Afrobeats fire, youthful vibe, and visionary infrastructure? Or Gauteng take the spotlight with its deep music history and modern charm, leveraging big cities like Johannesburg, Pretoria and Sandton?
One thing is certain, Africa is watching, and no matter where AFRIMA 2025 is held, the celebration of African music, talent and creativity will be unforgettable when the people work together towards a common goal.