Sean Paul, Masicka, Teejay lead IRAWMA nominations
DANCEHALL ARTISTES Sean Paul, Masicka and Teejay, with seven nominations each, lead the list of nominees for the 41st Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA). Some 150 nominees in 39 categories were revealed last Thursday at the Chateau Mar Golf Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The trio is closely followed by Byron Messia, Burna Boy and Popcaan with five nominations each; Dexta Daps, Spice and Valiant with four nods; and Beenie Man, Chronic Law, Koffee, D’Angel, Mavado, Davido, 450 and Pablo YG with three each.
The IRAWMA takes place on Friday, March 22, at the Lauderhill Performing Art Center (LPAC), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with celebrity red carpet arrivals starting at 7 p.m. EST.
“This is our eighth hosting of IRAWMA here in South Florida, and following the success of our milestone event in Jamaica last year, and by the request of the people here in Florida, Martin’s International is happy to say we are back!” Dr Ephraim Martin, founder of the awards, said.
He noted that for 40 consecutive years, IRAWMA has served as the only organisation honouring reggae and world music’s best throughout the globe.
“We intend to uphold the integrity of IRAWMA by giving honours only where honours are due, without compromise. This year we will be bestowing special honours to more than 10 members of the music industry and/or to social justice activism,” Martin added. Among the announcers revealing the nominees and special honorees were Martin, Copeland Forbes, Freddie McGregor and Sharon Wiles.
Voting is now open to the public at irawma.com; only one vote per person is allowed. Any attempted duplication of vote will void your vote, and it will not be counted.
HONOUR
This year the IRAWMA song contest is on for the second year, and entertainers can submit a two-minute MP4 video that must make mention of IRAWMA’s contributions to the music industry over the years.
The song must be emailed to irawma@gmail.com. Although only in his 60s, Martin is celebrating his 50-year anniversary in journalism, entertainment, and social justice activism, and this 41st IRAWMA is specially dedicated to him, and to health awareness.
As a result, a free health advocacy seminar will be held on March 21 at the same LPAC venue, starting at 10 a.m. The free tickets can be secured at www.irawma.com.
In a call to potential sponsors, Martin said, “For the enhancement of reggae, world music, health advocacy, and our social justice activities, we need the support of the music industry, other businesses, and individuals to become supporting partners, category sponsors, and/or to make a tax-deductible donation to enhance the level of production, keep IRAWMA strong, and for the fortification of reggae and world music globally.”