The organisers of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) have postponed its 2020 edition to 2021 over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world.

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The annual event normally holds at the end of the year with the 7th edition initially scheduled to hold over five days in Nigeria between December 2 and 6, 2020.

But in a statement to TheCable Lifestyle on Wednesday, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the international committee of AFRIMA said this year’s edition has been deferred to 2021 over COVID-19.

The organisers said the decision was reached after months of monitoring the prevailing coronavirus pandemic and careful consultations with its stakeholders globally, some of whom it said have often had to travel from far and near.

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“The decision to suspend the 7th edition of the main awards ceremony which had been scheduled to hold over five days in Nigeria between December 2 and 6, 2020, was revealed on Tuesday, November 10,” the statement read.

“The AUC and AFRIMA further state that the cancellation brings with it great opportunities for future awards planning and preparation by utilizing the digital platforms and gains the new normal has thrust upon the world of concerts, conferences and festivals, some of the activities which make up the annual AFRIMA event calendar.

“The safety of the community of AFRIMA stakeholders is of importance to us. Many of our awards nominees and delegates travel from different parts of the continent and from other parts of the globe to Africa each edition.

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“Understanding the risks involved with such movements, the suspension of the 2020 edition of AFRIMA is the only prudent course for us. We work day and night each year to ensure we provide a world-class and safe awards event.

“Now, we are focusing all of our efforts on making our future events even better. We hope that the world will be able to take adequate action and that the spread of the virus will soon be contained.”

As of November 19, Worldometres put the global deaths as a result of COVID-19 at 1,354,821, with 39,352,858 recoveries.

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