A Brief Introduction Of KORA Since Its Inception

The Kora All Africa Music Awards is an annual music ceremony created by Ernest Coovi Adjovi in 1994.

The objective of the Awards is to celebrate the best of African music, and to promote African culture by awarding a select number of artists who’ve distinguished themselves by producing an album of exceptional musical quality.

Background and Statistical Information

The KORA All Africa Music Awards was the first non-sporting Africa-wide event to be televised live throughout Africa, Europe and Asia.

The first KORA Awards ceremony took place in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1996.

In its first year, it was broadcast live to 45 countries. This has since increased to a total of 85 countries, with over 700 million viewers across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the U.S watching the event live.

Since its inception, KORA has awarded a total of 160 trophies to artists from 35 nations from across the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and the United States.

In 2000, the KORA Awards commenced on a social responsibility drive, and set out to raise funds for organizations fighting the scourge of HIV/AIDS. Since then, KORA Awards has also focused their funds on raising efforts to prevent malaria, a disease that is responsible for claiming the lives of over a million on the African continent.

In 2001, Ernest Adjovi introduced Miss Malaika, a pageant with a difference. This event was aimed at recognizing a young woman of African descent who exhibited a keen commitment to uplifting her community, distinguished academic and professional achievement, as well as the unique grace of the African woman.

The KORA Awards event has played host to a number of luminaries, amongst them Nelson Mandela (who has attended the event twice), Miriam Makeba, His Excellency Alpha Oumar Konare, Michael Jackson and Graça Machel.

Since the ceremony’s inception, the KORA Awards have awarded the Lifetime Achievement Awards to a number of icons, not all of whom are musicians.

In 2004, the African Legend Award was introduced.

The recipients of these prizes were:

1996 - Miriam Makeba (South Africa) - for her tireless work in conscientising the world about the injustices of Apartheid in South Africa and her stance as a proud Pan-African artist.

1997 - Nelson Mandela (South Africa) – for his outstanding work as a statesman and humanitarian.

1998 - Dr Cheick Modibo Diarra (Mali) - the aerospace engineer who was largely instrumental in the construction of NASA’s Mars Pathfinder.

1999 - Michael Jackson (United States) – for his considerable achievements in the music industry and commitment using music to unite people around the world.

2000 - Kofi Annan (Ghana) – the first U.N Secretary General from Sub-Saharan Africa.

2001 - Graça Machel (Mozambique) for her role as an African woman leader, and her work in campaigning for the rights of the African child.

2002 - His Excellency Alpha Oumar Konare (Mali) – former president of Mali, in recognition of his work as a statesman, and his commitment to and support of the musical arts in Africa.

2003 - Oliver Mtukudzi (Zimbabwe) – for his contribution to African musical culture, and the graceful and effective use of his voice to condemn injustice.

2004 - His Excellency El Hadj Omar Bongo (Gabon) – President of Gabon, the inaugural African Legend Award recipient, in recognition of his statesmanship, visionary leadership and uncompromising dedication to the idea of a Pan-African vision.

2004 - Salif Keita (Mali) – in recognition of his decades-long career and his role in heightening the awareness of African music worldwide.

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By Kevin Adisi, Ghana Music.com