Reggae and world music artists will come together at the 29th annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) on Sunday, May 2 in Jamaica, New York.
This year’s nominees are comprised of veterans artists of reggae music and new comers, but noticeably, organizers favored the roots and conscious music more this year.
Record label giant, VP Records, had more than 10 artists nominated in multiple categories,
Lionness Queen Ifrica, received an impressive seven nominations, including one in the male dominated category, Recording Artist(s)/Group of the Year. Macka Diamond continues to make reggae hits, received four nominations, including one for Best Crossover Song, “Still Spend,” where she’s featured on the song with Fay-Ann Lyons.
IRAWMA, Sunday, May 2, York College Performing Arts Center, Jamaica, New York.
Tarrus Riley leads the male artists with six nominations, but was snubbed for the Songwriter of the Year category. Sean Paul received four nominations, including a Community Service Award for “Save a Life,” a benefit song for the Bustamente Hospital in Jamaica.
Vbyz Kartel, Beenie Man and soca king, Machel Montano, each received three nominations.
Dancehall sensation Mavado and Buju Banton both received two nominations.
One category stood out, the Most Popular Sound System/Selector, in which Stone Love Sound, Mighty Crown, One Love Hi Powa, Black Kat and Shasamane are nominated.
Is it really conducive to have the number one sound in the world in this category?
Audience and nominees will be entertained by artists, including Julian Marley, Queen Ifrica, Tony Rebel, Allison Hinds, Dean Fraser and many more.
Fans, industry representatives and artists can vote or see the complete list of nominees, by clicking here.
The IRAWMA awards were created in 1982 by Ephraim M. Martin, a publisher, entrepreneur and television personality, to celebrate of contributions by artists, producers, writers and deejays in the reggae and world music genres.
In 1985, the category Best Reggae Album, was added to the Grammy Awards categories, mainly due to Hon. Robert Nesta Marley’s Platinum selling album “Legends,” that was released in 1984, three years after his death.
The album not only deserved, but demanded Grammy nominations at the 1985 awards ceremony and there wasn’t a category to place the album in, one needed to be created.
The world music category for the Grammy Awards was created in 1991.
Presently, the Grammy Awards offer one general reggae and two world music categories, Best Reggae Album, Best Traditional World Music Album and Best Contemporary World Music Album, each category having five nominees.
Some members in the reggae music industry have openly criticized the National Academy of Arts and Science, producers of the Grammy Awards, for not expanding the categories to include subgenres of reggae and world music, including dancehall, roots, soukous, calypso and soca.
Critics have also accused the Grammy Awards producers of having a lack of appreciation of reggae and world music, thus limiting nominee selections to only U.S. known or crossover artists and any artist with the last name Marley.
The awards begin at 7:30 p.m. at the York College Performing Arts Center in Jamaica, New York.
Admission to the awards ceremony in advance are $49 general, $75 main floor and $120 VIP, which includes entry into the reception. Day of show tickets are $59 general, $95 main floor and $150 VIP with reception.
For more information, call (312) 427-0266 or visit irawma.com.
— Mz. Jackson
San Diego Riddim Vibez 