Teejay and Byron Messia, who had two of the biggest dancehall tracks of 2023, walked away with three awards each at the International Reggae And World Music Awards (IRAWMA) held at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in South Florida on Friday.
Teejay secured victories in the categories of Best Song, Best Male Deejay/Rapper, and Best Collaborated Song for his hit “Drift Remix” featuring Davido.
Meanwhile, Byron Messia claimed top honors in the categories of Best Crossover Song for “Talibans” with Burna Boy, Best New Entertainer, and Best Music Video for “Talibans II” also featuring Burna Boy.
Another rising star, Pablo YG, was recognized with awards for Best Teen Entertainer and Most Promising Entertainer.
In the female categories, Etana was crowned Best Female Vocalist, while Spice took home the title of Best Female DJ/Rapper.
Sean Paul and Christopher Martin emerged as double winners, with Sean Paul clinching the prestigious Entertainer of The Year award, also known as the Bob Marley Award, along with Recording Artiste of The Year, earning him the Peter Tosh Award.
Christopher Martin, a stalwart in the dancehall scene, triumphed in the Best Gospel Song category with “Goodness of God” and received the Jacob Miller Award for Best Male Vocalist.
Special honorees
The IRAWMA also paid tribute to several music legends through special awards and acknowledgments.
Jacob Miller, the late lead singer of the Inner Circle Band, was posthumously honored with a lifetime achievement award. His tragic passing occurred 44 years ago on March 23, at the young age of 27, in an auto accident in Kingston.
Among the distinguished honorees was the Honorable Dr. Alfarita “Rita” Marley, renowned as the mother of reggae and the widow of the legendary Bob Marley. She was presented with the Philanthropist Award during the event, accompanied by a tribute performance from her daughter Sharon.
In addition, reggae icon Freddie McGregor received a special tribute, delivered by his son Chino, while celebrated attorney-at-law Ben Crump was bestowed with the IRAWMA Freedom Fighter Award.
The list of honorees also included reggae singer Glen Washington; Papa San and Honorebel; Chris Chin, CEO of VP Records; and broadcasters Amy Wachtel and Clinton Lindsay.
Conceived by Jamaican journalist Ephraim Martin, the IRAWMA made its debut in 1982, becoming a significant platform for celebrating and recognizing excellence in reggae and world music.
