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- The 30th Anniversary of the International Reggae and World Music Awards 2011 Review
The 30th Anniversary of the International Reggae and World Music Awards 2011 Review
- By Ania O.
- Published 28-May-11
- 2011 Events
- Unrated
>> View 30th Anniversary of IRWMA 2011 Gallery
“Unity is strength, forward together music shall conquer”. Following this motto IRWAMA (International Reggae and World Music Awards) made its way to Trinidad and Tobago to celebrate the 30th anniversary. TJJ crew was there to tell you all about this prestigious and spectacular event. If anyone wonders why IRWAMA chose T&T for this occasion, would wonder no more if we tell you that this year was the first time ‘chutney’ was added as a category! Also special attention was given to “pan music’, not to mention that T&T’s own Machel Montano was nominated in 7 categories this year. In total more than 30 of the nominees came from T&T! Something to be proud of.
Held in NAPA, the venue alone gave the reasons to feel formal but festive. Entering through the red carpet, being greeted by the ladies in carnival costumes and served cocktails at the entrance definitely put everyone in the mood to embrace, not only local, music icons. After being pleasantly treated to Angostura cocktails and Single Barrel rum, and with full bellies from all the delicious cutters, we were then seatedas the ceremony was soon to begin.
From a serious speech by the president of IRWAMA, Ephrain Martin to entertaining hosting skills of Jamaican music legends, Tony Rebel and Shaggy and Grammy winning songstress Deniece Williams, the tension was building up to find out who were the winners. One by one the nominees were announced … Out of the 41 different categories, we were introduced to some of them like: Most Outstanding Stage Personality – MACHEL MONTANO. Best Male Calyso/Soca Entertainer- MACHEL MONTANO.
Songwriter of the Year – KERNAL ROBERTS. Best Chutney Entertainer- RICKY JAI
Best Caribbean Entertainer- MACHEL MONTANO.
Do we have to add more? Trinidad and Tobago to the world!!!
Machel Montano emphasized that he collects these awards on behalf of all the soca artists in Trinidad. Shaggy collected few awards as well for: Entertainer of the Year , also Community Service Award. Best Male Vocalist is Turrus Riley, Best Male D.J./Rapper , Bennie Man and Best Female Vocalist – Queen Ifrica, just to name a few.
(See the official list of winners including special awards winners at the end of this article)
Of course that wasn’t all the entertainment provided. Besides excellent, amusing hosts who were telling jokes, singing, laughing and drinking wine on stage, we had a chance to see some great performances. Since IRAWMA is all about the recognition of different music styles it proved to present variety of genres on one stage. From a brilliant performance of Best Instrumentalist award winner Dean Fraser to St. Maarten’s leading pannist Mighty Dow. From dancehall diva Macka Diamond to a chutney favourite Soca Elvis. From beautiful reggae sounds of Gramps Morgan and amazing voice of Turrus Riley to final performance of ‘Bend Over’ by the 4 awards winner Machel Montano … we felt very entertained.
All these ‘treats’ in one place, satisfying all tastes. Glamour, prestige, humor and words of gratitude filled the air of this event.
But the organizers had some more in store for T&T public. On Sunday 29th June at the Queens Park Savannah, a super Sunday Concert was held to celebrate the winners of the awards. Again, we were there to report and enjoy the show… unfortunately, for reasons unknown to us, 96% of the artists did not perform!! Not only was that bad, but also the fact that patrons and most in attendance on the night were never even given a reason, far less an apology. Were is the professionalism we saw the night before at Napa??!! We on the other hand, still took some photos and mingled with the crowd while enjoying some drinks and music played by the DJ. Maybe next time we could see the show that we came to see …
Ania reporting for the TJJ fam
IRAWMA’s Official Results:
1. Entertainer of the Year – SHAGGY
2. Recording Artist of the Year – DAMIAN MARLEY & NAZ
3. Best Male Vocalist – TARRUS RILEY
4. Best Female Vocalist - QUEEN IFRICA
5. Best Song –“UNCONDITIONAL LOVE” - JAH CURE & PHYLLISIA
6. Best CD – “MADE IN JAMAICA” - BOB SINCLAR & SLY & ROBBIE
7. Best Crossover Song – “FIND YOUR LOVE” - DRAKE/MAVADO
8. Best Gospel Song – “WALK AWAY” - NIGEL LEWIS
9. Best Latin Entertainer- SHAKIRA
10. Best Music Video– “HOLD YUH” – GYPTIAN
11. Best New Entertainer – BUFFY
12. Best Female D.J./Rapper –MACKA DIAMOND
13. Best Male D.J./Rapper – BEENIE MAN
14. Most Outstanding Stage Personality – MACHEL MONTANO
15. Best Male Calyso/Soca Entertainer- MACHEL MONTANO
16. Best Female Calyso/Soca Entertainer- DESTRA
17. Best Poet- MUTABURUKA
18. Most Educational Ent. – JAH CURE
19. Concert of the Year – REGGAE SUMFEST
20. Promoter of the Year –TRISTAR PROD
21. Producer of the Year – ZAHEER KHAN
22. Best Caribbean Entertainer- MACHEL MONTANO
23. Best Reggaeton Entertainer – PITBULL
24. Best Backing Band – ROY CAPE ALL STARS
25. Best Instrumentalist –DEAN FRASER
26. Most Popular Sound System – STONE LOVE
27. Best Chutney Entertainer- RICKY JAI
28. Best African Ent. – ROCKY DAWUNI
29. Best Soukous Ent.- AWILO LONGOMBA
30. Outstanding Contribution to World Music – JIMMY CLIFF
31. Best Hip Hop- NICKI MINAJ
32. Most Consistent Entertainer(tie)
*MIGHTY SPARROW
* FREDDIE McGREGOR
33. Most Promising Entertainer – ROMAIN VIRGO
34. Most Outstanding Show Band– MACHEL MONTANO & HD BAND
35. Best Compas Entertainer – SWEET MICKY
36. Most Improved Entertainer – IWER GEORGE
37. Most Outstanding Dance Group- SHADY SQUAD
38. Songwriter of the Year – KERNAL ROBERTS
39. Community Service Award – SHAGGY
40. Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award- SHAGGY & FRIENDS
41. Award for Spiritual Service Through Music – JAH CURE
42. Best Chutney Band-PCS ALL STARS
SPECIAL AWARDS BELOW:
43. Int’l Reggae & World Music Hall of Fame/Lifetime Award-
* JOE TROUILLOT
* SILVIO RODRIGUEZ)
* EARL “CHINNA” SMITH
* HON. WINSTON “GYPSY” PETERS
* ISIDORE “MIGHTY DOW” YORK
* ROY FRANCIS CAPE
44. Martin’s International Award of Honor- Given May 28, 2011
* ROBERT AMAR
* DENNIS “SPRANGALANG” HALL
* SHERYL LEE RALPH- ACTRESS
* IRIE FM RADIO
* CHINESE LAUNDRY-TONY CHOW & JOHNNY SOONG
* TONY REBEL
45. SPECIAL: Master of Reggae and World Music Internationally
* CHRIS BLACKWELL
46. SPECIAL: Master of Reggae Award-FREDDIE MCGREGOR
47. SPECIAL: King of Soca Award- MACHEL MONTANO
48. Awards of Appreciation for Contributions to the Music Industry
* BUSTA RHYMES
* JOHN ARNOLD
* MARIO RUSSELL
* MIKE SEARS
* DAHVED LEVY
* LIL WAYNE
>> View 30th Anniversary of IRWMA 2011 Gallery
“Unity is strength, forward together music shall conquer”. Following this motto IRWAMA (International Reggae and World Music Awards) made its way to Trinidad and Tobago to celebrate the 30th anniversary. TJJ crew was there to tell you all about this prestigious and spectacular event. If anyone wonders why IRWAMA chose T&T for this occasion, would wonder no more if we tell you that this year was the first time ‘chutney’ was added as a category! Also special attention was given to “pan music’, not to mention that T&T’s own Machel Montano was nominated in 7 categories this year. In total more than 30 of the nominees came from T&T! Something to be proud of.Held in NAPA, the venue alone gave the reasons to feel formal but festive. Entering through the red carpet, being greeted by the ladies in carnival costumes and served cocktails at the entrance definitely put everyone in the mood to embrace, not only local, music icons. After being pleasantly treated to Angostura cocktails and Single Barrel rum, and with full bellies from all the delicious cutters, we were then seatedas the ceremony was soon to begin.
From a serious speech by the president of IRWAMA, Ephrain Martin to entertaining hosting skills of Jamaican music legends, Tony Rebel and Shaggy and Grammy winning songstress Deniece Williams, the tension was building up to find out who were the winners. One by one the nominees were announced … Out of the 41 different categories, we were introduced to some of them like: Most Outstanding Stage Personality – MACHEL MONTANO. Best Male Calyso/Soca Entertainer- MACHEL MONTANO.
Songwriter of the Year – KERNAL ROBERTS. Best Chutney Entertainer- RICKY JAI
Best Caribbean Entertainer- MACHEL MONTANO.
Do we have to add more? Trinidad and Tobago to the world!!!
Machel Montano emphasized that he collects these awards on behalf of all the soca artists in Trinidad. Shaggy collected few awards as well for: Entertainer of the Year , also Community Service Award. Best Male Vocalist is Turrus Riley, Best Male D.J./Rapper , Bennie Man and Best Female Vocalist – Queen Ifrica, just to name a few.
(See the official list of winners including special awards winners at the end of this article)
Of course that wasn’t all the entertainment provided. Besides excellent, amusing hosts who were telling jokes, singing, laughing and drinking wine on stage, we had a chance to see some great performances. Since IRAWMA is all about the recognition of different music styles it proved to present variety of genres on one stage. From a brilliant performance of Best Instrumentalist award winner Dean Fraser to St. Maarten’s leading pannist Mighty Dow. From dancehall diva Macka Diamond to a chutney favourite Soca Elvis. From beautiful reggae sounds of Gramps Morgan and amazing voice of Turrus Riley to final performance of ‘Bend Over’ by the 4 awards winner Machel Montano … we felt very entertained.
All these ‘treats’ in one place, satisfying all tastes. Glamour, prestige, humor and words of gratitude filled the air of this event.
But the organizers had some more in store for T&T public. On Sunday 29th June at the Queens Park Savannah, a super Sunday Concert was held to celebrate the winners of the awards. Again, we were there to report and enjoy the show… unfortunately, for reasons unknown to us, 96% of the artists did not perform!! Not only was that bad, but also the fact that patrons and most in attendance on the night were never even given a reason, far less an apology. Were is the professionalism we saw the night before at Napa??!! We on the other hand, still took some photos and mingled with the crowd while enjoying some drinks and music played by the DJ. Maybe next time we could see the show that we came to see …
Ania reporting for the TJJ fam
IRAWMA’s Official Results:
1. Entertainer of the Year – SHAGGY
2. Recording Artist of the Year – DAMIAN MARLEY & NAZ
3. Best Male Vocalist – TARRUS RILEY
4. Best Female Vocalist - QUEEN IFRICA
5. Best Song –“UNCONDITIONAL LOVE” - JAH CURE & PHYLLISIA
6. Best CD – “MADE IN JAMAICA” - BOB SINCLAR & SLY & ROBBIE
7. Best Crossover Song – “FIND YOUR LOVE” - DRAKE/MAVADO
8. Best Gospel Song – “WALK AWAY” - NIGEL LEWIS
9. Best Latin Entertainer- SHAKIRA
10. Best Music Video– “HOLD YUH” – GYPTIAN
11. Best New Entertainer – BUFFY
12. Best Female D.J./Rapper –MACKA DIAMOND
13. Best Male D.J./Rapper – BEENIE MAN
14. Most Outstanding Stage Personality – MACHEL MONTANO
15. Best Male Calyso/Soca Entertainer- MACHEL MONTANO
16. Best Female Calyso/Soca Entertainer- DESTRA
17. Best Poet- MUTABURUKA
18. Most Educational Ent. – JAH CURE
19. Concert of the Year – REGGAE SUMFEST
20. Promoter of the Year –TRISTAR PROD
21. Producer of the Year – ZAHEER KHAN
22. Best Caribbean Entertainer- MACHEL MONTANO
23. Best Reggaeton Entertainer – PITBULL
24. Best Backing Band – ROY CAPE ALL STARS
25. Best Instrumentalist –DEAN FRASER
26. Most Popular Sound System – STONE LOVE
27. Best Chutney Entertainer- RICKY JAI
28. Best African Ent. – ROCKY DAWUNI
29. Best Soukous Ent.- AWILO LONGOMBA
30. Outstanding Contribution to World Music – JIMMY CLIFF
31. Best Hip Hop- NICKI MINAJ
32. Most Consistent Entertainer(tie)
*MIGHTY SPARROW
* FREDDIE McGREGOR
33. Most Promising Entertainer – ROMAIN VIRGO
34. Most Outstanding Show Band– MACHEL MONTANO & HD BAND
35. Best Compas Entertainer – SWEET MICKY
36. Most Improved Entertainer – IWER GEORGE
37. Most Outstanding Dance Group- SHADY SQUAD
38. Songwriter of the Year – KERNAL ROBERTS
39. Community Service Award – SHAGGY
40. Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award- SHAGGY & FRIENDS
41. Award for Spiritual Service Through Music – JAH CURE
42. Best Chutney Band-PCS ALL STARS
SPECIAL AWARDS BELOW:
43. Int’l Reggae & World Music Hall of Fame/Lifetime Award-
* JOE TROUILLOT
* SILVIO RODRIGUEZ)
* EARL “CHINNA” SMITH
* HON. WINSTON “GYPSY” PETERS
* ISIDORE “MIGHTY DOW” YORK
* ROY FRANCIS CAPE
44. Martin’s International Award of Honor- Given May 28, 2011
* ROBERT AMAR
* DENNIS “SPRANGALANG” HALL
* SHERYL LEE RALPH- ACTRESS
* IRIE FM RADIO
* CHINESE LAUNDRY-TONY CHOW & JOHNNY SOONG
* TONY REBEL
45. SPECIAL: Master of Reggae and World Music Internationally
* CHRIS BLACKWELL
46. SPECIAL: Master of Reggae Award-FREDDIE MCGREGOR
47. SPECIAL: King of Soca Award- MACHEL MONTANO
48. Awards of Appreciation for Contributions to the Music Industry
* BUSTA RHYMES
* JOHN ARNOLD
* MARIO RUSSELL
* MIKE SEARS
* DAHVED LEVY
* LIL WAYNE
>> View 30th Anniversary of IRWMA 2011 Gallery
