The President of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), Mr. Mike Dada, joined leading global cultural and creative industry experts to chart new pathways for Africa’s cultural sector at the 3rd Moroccan Forum of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), held in Rabat, Morocco, from December 11 to 14, 2025.
Organised under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and hosted by the HIBA Foundation, a cultural organisation established by the King to support Morocco’s creative economy, the forum convened policymakers, investors, cultural operators, academics and creative professionals from across Africa, Europe and North America. Participants from Senegal, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Belgium, Germany, France, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso and Quebec explored strategies for strengthening Africa’s cultural ecosystems and increasing the economic value of creative industries.
Representing AFRIMA and the African music sector, Mr. Dada, a lawyer, public relations consultant and creative economy expert, spoke on a key panel titled “Towards a Pan-African Federation of Cultural Operators: What lessons can be drawn from past experiences, and how can we project forward?” The discussion focused on knowledge sharing, cross-border collaboration and building stronger continental partnerships to advance Africa’s cultural exchange and creative growth.
During the session, Dada highlighted AFRIMA’s collaboration with the African Union and the role the awards platform has played in projecting African music onto the global stage. He stressed the importance of targeted investment, skills development and structured cooperation to unlock the full potential of Africa’s cultural industries, particularly for young creatives.
“Africa’s creative industry is not just growing; it is becoming a powerful economic force,” Dada said. “What we need now is stronger cooperation across the continent, better policies and sustainable investment. With these in place, the cultural sector can contribute far more significantly to national development.”
He added that the forum provided a vital platform for exchanging ideas, learning from global partners and building a shared vision for African culture, noting that such conversations help stakeholders identify what works, what needs reform and how the continent can move forward collectively.
“Through AFRIMA, we will continue to promote African music to the world, support young creatives and strengthen partnerships between countries, ensuring African talent is visible, respected, exposed to global opportunities and celebrated everywhere,” he said.
On the sidelines of the forum, Dada also attended a special reception hosted by the French Ambassador to Morocco, Mr. Christophe Lecourtier, on December 12, where cultural leaders engaged and explored new partnership opportunities.
Established in 2014 by the International Committee AFRIMA in collaboration with the African Union, AFRIMA is Africa’s global music awards platform dedicated to celebrating and promoting the continent’s diverse musical talents and cultural heritage worldwide. Its 9th edition is scheduled to hold from January 7 to 11, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria, and will be broadcast live in more than 84 countries.
