Caribbean music has left an indelible mark on the world. From reggae’s smooth grooves and dancehall’s upbeat beats to calypso’s storytelling melodies and calypso’s emotional narratives, its influence can be felt around the globe. Many Caribbean musicians have earned accolades for their works.
The IRAWMA honored the best in industry with performances by Spice, Alison Hinds, Jada Kingdom, Ding Dong and Kranium. Buju Banton received an “Elite Icon Award”, while Dawn Penn and Horace Andy also were honored.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley is one of the most acclaimed reggae musicians ever, popularizing Jamaican music to audiences around the globe and inspiring generations of musicians who carry on his legacy. He helped popularize ska music during his early ’60s albums before going on to invent roots reggae on his later releases from his ’70s catalogue. Through his lyrics he conveyed social messages of faith and devotion evoking both their impoverished lives in Jamaica as well as their profound spiritual beliefs.
His son Damian found great success incorporating reggae and hip-hop influences in his musical style, working alongside artists like Mariah Carey to become one of the rising stars in the industry. Ky-Mani also set an example for younger musicians with her soulful music that fused elements of R&B and reggae together seamlessly.
The International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) is held annually to recognize people, groups, and organizations that contribute to the advancement of reggae music. As an annual global event that attracts artists, producers, songwriters, and other individuals from around the globe. Established in 1982 by Jamaican entrepreneur Ephraim Martin as well as radio personality Ernie McCallan.
Toots and the Maytals won best reggae album for their soulful album “Got to Be Tough,” an homage to classic rocksteady and ska music styles as well as deeper lyrics that explore political tropes while calling for unity.
Beres Hammond and Kabaka Pyramid were honored with an icon award at this year’s IRAWMA ceremony, while Dawn Penn, Horace Andy, Shaggy, Beres Hammond and Kabaka Pyramid received male artist of the year accolades. The event will take place live at New York City Hilton on April 10 and feature performances by artists from around the globe.
Ziggy Marley
Ziggy Marley, son of reggae icon Bob Marley, has successfully established himself as an influential musical pioneer. To date he has released 13 albums including Grammy-nominated self-titled album titled “Ziggy Marley.” Furthermore, Ziggy is also an advocate for environmental conservation and human rights issues; winning awards such as UCLA Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award and George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement for his efforts.
Marley began his musical career with The Melody Makers, an ensemble featuring his siblings Sharon, Stephen and Cedella. Their initial album Play the Game Right did not meet with much success, while One Bright Day proved both critical and commercially popular – cementing their position as one of the top bands during the 80s.
Marley has left behind an ever-evolving musical legacy for generations of musicians to follow, which continues to spread and influence new talent. In 2014, Marley participated in GRAMMY Camp — Basic Training program where aspiring musicians learned from some of the top names in music industry. Additionally, he established U.R.G.E Foundation which strives to make lasting contributions towards improving children’s lives both locally and worldwide.
The International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) honor artists in various categories, such as songwriter of the year and entertainer of the year. This year’s ceremony will honor Dawn Penn, Horace Andy and Shaggy; winners will be revealed April 10. This event is hosted by Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JRIA), established in 1982 based out of Kingston Jamaica as a non-profit organization.
Buju Banton
The International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), are held every year to recognize the accomplishments of reggae artists from around the world – such as songwriters, producers, musicians and more. Furthermore, this platform serves as a way for new talent to gain exposure within the industry and the ceremony can take place anywhere around the world – including Jamaica!
The awards are determined through public and panel voting. Every year, various categories receive recognition; past recipients include Ziggy Marley and Wyclef Jean as winners. Held since 1982, these ceremonies also promote and celebrate Jamaican culture, heritage, food, and music.
Buju Banton is widely recognized as one of the most influential dancehall reggae artists ever. First emerging in the early 1990s with controversial “slack” singles that garnered criticism due to their graphic sexuality and homophobia, then after converting to Rastafarianism revolutionizing dancehall with live instrumentation and social awareness as shown on albums like 1995’s Until Shiloh and Inna Heights.
In 2010, he won a Grammy award for his critically acclaimed and widely popular album Before the Dawn, however he was arrested and held until February 2021 for drug conspiracy and gun charges, before touring worldwide and continuing to release music.
Buju Banton’s latest album, Born for Greatness, is a powerful political statement about contemporary society’s shortcomings. Combining dancehall with roots-rock elements to provide a refreshing take on genre music. His songs delve deep into his personal experiences as he traverses both lows and peaks of life – while reflecting his admiration of dark-skinned beauty.
Machel Montano
IRAWMA (International Reggae and World Music Awards) was first held in 1982 as one of the premier Caribbean entertainment award shows, with one goal in mind – to promote culture, heritage, and music in an entertaining format. This year’s event showcased many talented individuals; Ziggy Marley won multiple awards while Buju Banton received an honorary ‘Hon Bob Marley Award’ – as well as Morgan Heritage, Kabaka Pyramid Popcaan and Soca superstar Tempa.
The ceremony was hosted by Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean and saw multiple double winners across multiple categories: Kabaka Pyramid won Impact Award in Reggae/Dancehall while Chronic Law/Viking Ding Dong won same category in Soca. There was also performances by Wayne Wonder, Alison Hinds/Jada Kingdom/Dexta Daps/Kranium/Nailah Blackman among many others as well as Ding Dong/Rupee/Baby Cham/Toni-Ann Singh/ Romain Virgo/etc etc.
Reggae first made its grand entrance at the Grammy awards in 1985 when Black Uhuru took home their inaugural Best Reggae Album award with their album Anthem, outstripping other notable albums such as Jimmy Cliff’s Reggae Nights, Rasta Philosophy by The Itals, Peter Tosh Captured Live and Toots & the Maytals Got to Be Tough. Seven years later in 1987 British roots-reggae group Steel Pulse became the first non-Jamaican act to win Best Reggae Album with their album Babylon the Bandit victory; beating other notable artists such as Black Uhuru, Ziggy Marley Bunny Wailer and The Wailing Souls among other notable acts.
At this year’s IRAWMAs, a record number of nominees received recognition with 38 nods in 14 different categories. Although entries were high, soca stars still managed an excellent night with Trinidadian soca superstar Machel Montano winning Soca Artiste of the Year for his hit song ‘Ministry of the Road’ being one of Soca music’s biggest successes ever!
Wayne Wonder
The International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA) is held each year to recognize artists in Jamaican music industry. This event celebrates songwriters, singers, performers, promoters and promoters of reggae, dancehall, soca and calypso music genres; winners receive gold trophies along with performing on red carpet performances – this year Tempa was honored as Best New Artist while Machel Montano received Lifetime Achievement Award; beres Hammond won Male Artist of Year award.
The International Reggae Awards WMA was first created in 1982, and today stands as one of the premier reggae award ceremonies. Held annually in Kingston, Jamaica, these awards celebrate both musical achievements by Jamaican reggae artists as well as honor business leaders who have contributed significantly to the development and promotion of Jamaican music. Attending dignitaries include government representatives as well as representatives from different Jamaican industries.
Von Wayne Charles, more popularly known as Wayne Wonder, was born in Portland Jamaica before moving with his family to eastern Kingston when he was very young. His mother sang gospel music at church while he learned how to sing too; after elementary school he began writing songs. King Tubby discovered him and they collaborated on recording singles for Sonic Sounds before Tubby tragically died some time afterward while creating music together; unfortunately though after this episode Wonder began drifting away from music until meeting a producer named Dave Kelly who helped regain his confidence and revive his career once more.
L.A.B was a standout at the 2022 Aotearoa Music Awards, taking home four awards – Recorded Music NZ Te Pukaemi o te Tau/Album of the Year and Te Waiata Totahi o te Tau/Single of the Year being two major honors they won for L.A.B – including Icons of Ska/Rocksteady Stanger Cole and Derrick Morgan respectively for Ska/Rocksteady and Reggae/Ska respectively!