CELEBRATE IRAWMA’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN JAMAICA, ON THE RED CARPET & THE AWARDS SHOWCASE @ WWW.IRAWMA.COM
VOTING TO PICK WINNERS IS OVER! WHO WILL TAKE HOME IRAWMA’S HONORS, MAY 7TH?
IRAWMA SONG FINALISTS NOW OPEN FOR YOUR VOTE AT WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/IRAWMA
(Chicago/Jamaica, April 2023):
The star-studded 40th Anniversary of the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), with its objective of “Bringing Nations Together Through Music and Culture”, and the theme of “Reggae Rise”, is set for a grand festivity on Sunday, May 7th at the famous Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. Seats to the public are limited, so please visit www.irawma.com to secure a seat, if not watch the live streaming at www.YouTube.com/irawma.
The voting to select the winners is now over, and some 150 of the reggae and world music industry’s best are competing to receive the coveted IRAWMA honors.
This year, Martin’s International initiated the IRAWMA Best Song contest, the five finalists and their song titles have been revealed. They are: “Not A Grammy It’s IRAWMA Awards”, by Blacspade- Jamaican/American, “Legendary” by Jaymon-American, “IRAWMA 40th Reggae Love Song” by Dainjah Rus- Jamaican/American, “Big-Up IRAWMA Not A Drama”- by History Man -Jamaican, and “IRAWMA Strong” by Docta Flow – Ghana, Africa.
In this IRAWMA Best Song Contest, the first round is here www.YouTube.com/irawma. Subscribe with notification, then in the following link listen to the songs, and like your favorite artist. Click here now, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnQKtHCwTi5Rd1C1sthxCdCk46eyw1NRMTL27wUSswG47QRQ/viewform?usp=sf_link. The 2nd and final round will be determined by a panel of five Judges where the contenders will perform live at the Awards ceremony, or via video.
The celebrity red carpet arrival, reception, and Awards showcase will kick-off at 6:00 pm, on May 7th with scores of media/press cameras lining up on the red carpet for the spectacular milestone celebration of reggae and world music achievements.
Among some of the special honorees and nominees are: Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Koffee, Spice, Masicka, Popcaan, Sean Paul, Kabaka, Alkaline, Skeng, Valiant, Sizzla, Skillibeng, Eddy Kenzo, Shatta Wale, Gramps Morgan, Romain Virgo, Etana, Christopher Martin, Queen Ifrika, Cherry Natural, Ding Dong, Toni Ann Singh, Capleton, Machel Montano, Patricia Roberts, Shenell Muir, Shaggy, Burna Boy, Bad Bunny, Stick Figure, Dexta Daps, Shenseea, Kevin Downswell, Carlene Davis and others. A limited number of VIP and general admission tickets are now available to the public at www.irawma.com.
According to Dr. Ephraim Martin, Founder and Producer of Martin’s International- IRAWMA, “In addition to IRAWMA Best Song Contest, we have made great efforts to give deserving respect to those who have labored and contributed greatly to the music and culture of Jamaica and those who have contributed to social change in society, not just in Jamaica, but the world.
We are Giving a special honor posthumously, to the late Peter Tosh for his early campaign to legalize marijuana for medical use, and his encouragement for us to start the annual IRAWMA. In salute to the “Bush Doctor”, as he was famously called, his son, Andrew Tosh will perform a song in his honor.
We are also saluting fifty years of Jamaican Dancehall and its evolution through those years. Winston Powell, whose Stone Love Sound System has been the most consistent dancehall system and has been the ruler for the genre for more than 30 of those years, will be among the honorees. During the Awards ceremony, Stone Love will take us down memory lane in a dancehall exhibition, Jamaican style and will allow celebrities and attendees to shake their legs.
There are several other special awards and salutes that will be witnessed, along with the galaxy of reggae and world music’s best performers, presenters, hosts, and nominees taking the stage to participate and give acceptance speeches at this IRAWMA 40th, “Reggae Rise” celebration”, Dr. Martin concluded.
Due to the limited general, VIP tickets and hotel packages available to the public, this 40th IRAWMA will be streaming live on www.YouTube.com/irawma, starting from the red carpet to the Awards ceremony. The IRAWMA will be post- televised nationally in Jamaica, and is tentatively, set to broadcast on NBC TV and/or CBS TV in Chicago, among other international markets. Be sure to subscribe to www.YouTube.com/irawma with notification of the airing dates and times.
Thanks to the endorsement of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), and the support of the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports (McGES), Downsound Entertainment (DSE), and VP Records. Also, special thanks go to the category sponsors: Winford Williams-OnStage TV, IrieJam Media/Bridge 99 FM, “Halls of Justice” – Hon. L. Priscilla Hall/Hon. Shelvin L.M. Hall, Truly Inspired Consultant, LLC., 25th Century Radio, Rebel Vibez, Balloons by JakiJade, Dainjah Rus Rebel Muzik, Roc Factory, Alpha Studio, Reggaevibesmedia.com, and Touchstone Productions Ltd, among others
IRAWMA operates under the umbrella of Martin’s International Foundation, a nonprofit 501 © 3 organization. For the fortification of IRAWMA, your tax-deductible donation or sponsorship of one of the Awards categories would be most appreciated and welcomed. For more information visit www.irawma.com, email irawma@gmail.com or call
877/9-REGGAE (973-4423).
Press Release
CELEBRATE IRAWMA’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN JAMAICA, ON THE RED CARPET & THE AWARDS SHOWCASE @ WWW.IRAWMA.COMVOTING TO PICK WINNERS IS OVER! WHO WILL TAKE HOME IRAWMA’S HONORS, MAY 7TH?IRAWMA SONG FINALISTS NOW OPEN FOR YOUR VOTE AT WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/IRAWMA (Chicago/Jamaica, April 2023): The star-studded 40th Anniversary of the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), with its objective of “Bringing Nations Together Through Music and Culture”, and the theme of “Reggae Rise”, is set for a grand festivity on Sunday, May 7th at
