Algeria has formally expressed interest in hosting a future edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), in a move that signals a significant expansion of the pan-African music platform into North Africa.
The development follows a meeting in Abidjan between Algeria’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Mohamed Abdelaziz Bouguetaia, and DJ Moh Green, winner of Best African DJ at the ninth edition of AFRIMA. The award-winning DJ, accompanied by Victoria Nkong, AFRIMA’s Associate Producer, presented his trophy to the ambassador at the Algerian mission — a gesture that quickly evolved into a broader conversation about the future of Africa’s premier music awards.
Algeria’s expression of interest comes shortly after Côte d’Ivoire indicated its own readiness to host a future edition of the awards, marking back-to-back signals of intent from two of the continent’s most influential cultural economies.
“DJ Moh Green has made Algeria proud. He has carried our flag high and demonstrated that Algerian music has a strong voice in Africa and beyond. Algeria is open to hosting AFRIMA in the future and ready to explore that possibility,” said His Excellency Mohamed Abdelaziz Bouguetaia, Algerian Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire.
Ambassador Bouguetaia also praised AFRIMA’s continental reach and its influence on youth culture and cultural policy, describing both as “impressive.”
Victoria Nkong described the overture as further evidence of AFRIMA’s growing continental relevance. “AFRIMA was created to unite Africa through music and to project our creative industry as a global economic force,” she said. “The growing interest from countries across the continent affirms that AFRIMA is not just an awards ceremony, but a pan-African institution.”
For DJ Moh Green, the meeting carried a personal weight that went beyond professional recognition. “For me, this is bigger than an award. Presenting my AFRIMA trophy to my country’s ambassador is a proud moment,” he said. “It shows that African music connects governments, creatives and young people. Seeing Algeria show interest in hosting AFRIMA proves that we believe in African music and in our place in the continental conversation.”
Established in partnership with the African Union Commission in 2014, AFRIMA is the continent’s longest-running music awards, designed to unite Africa across geographical, linguistic and cultural lines. Previous host countries — including Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal — have demonstrated the awards’ capacity to generate measurable economic and cultural impact.
Each AFRIMA Awards Week draws more than 5,000 visitors to the host city, including nominees, past winners, international delegates, government officials, media professionals and global production crews. The week-long programme encompasses the Africa Music Business Summit (AMBS), the AFRIMA Music Village, industry networking sessions and the flagship main awards ceremony, which is broadcast live to audiences in over 84 countries.
Beyond celebrating musical excellence, the platform serves as a driver of youth empowerment, creative industry growth, tourism and cultural diplomacy — a proposition that, if Algeria’s overture translates into a formal bid, could bring AFRIMA to North Africa for the first time.
•Featured image: From left: Victoria Nkong, Associate Producer, AFRIMA; His Excellency Mohamed Abdelaziz Bouguetaia, Algerian Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire; and DJ Moh Green, 9th AFRIMA Best African DJ winner — pictured during their meeting at the Algerian Embassy in Abidjan
