THE INTERNATIONAL REGGAE AND WORLD MUSIC AWARDS

The 27^th Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), by Martin’s International and Associates returns to Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theatre, in New York City on Sunday May 4, 2008. Leading with the most nominations is Tarrus Riley, with seven, two of them being Best Vocalist and Best Song, for the female anthem “She’s Royal”. Deejay Mavado has five, for best Male Dj, Best Album, Best Recording Artist, Songwriter of the Year, and Community Service.

Beenie man, Buju Banton, Steven Marley and Sean Kingston all received four nominations, while soca star Machel Montana, Kymani Marley and Junior Reid, each captured three. Junior Reid is nominated for two in the same category of Best Crossover for his hitlist with Alicia Keys and rapper MIMS.

Other nominees include: Ziggy Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Rihanna, Jay Z, Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, King Sunny Ade, Sly and Robbie, Youssou N’Dour, Toots Hibberts, Beres Hammond, Daddy Yankee, Marc Anthony, Shakira, Angela Kidjo, Femi Kuti, and Jah Cure.

Ephraim Martin, founder of the IRAWMA, announced that Beenie Man, Kymani Marley, Doug E. Fresh, Sean Kingston, Tarrus Riley, Dean Fraser, D’Angel and Buju Banton as a presenter are booked for the star-studded event so far.

Commencing at 8:00pm is for general admission, 7:00pm for VIP ticket holders, and 6:00pm for the nominees, performers, sponsors and other participants to walk the red carpet.

IRAWMA NOMINATION LIST

BOB MARLEY AWARD FOR ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Beenie Man

Buju Banton

Tarrus Riley

Stephen Marley

Machel Montano

RECORDING ARTIST(S)/GROUP OF THE YEAR

Mavado

Munga Honourable

Beenie Man

Tarrus Riley

Jah Cure

Luciano

BEST MALE VOCALIST

Daville

Tarrus Riley

Richie Spice

Jah Cure

Luciano

BEST FEMALE VOCALIST

Cecile

Etana

Tessanne Chin

Alaine

Queen Ifrica

BEST SONG

She’s Royal – Tarrus Riley

Hot Wuk – Mr. Vegas

Church Heathen – Shaggy

Sticky – Jah Cure

Come Around – Collie Budz

BEST ALBUM/CD

Intoxication – Shaggy

Mind control – Stephen Marley

True Reflections – Jah cure

Parables – Tarrus Riley

Gansta For Life – Mavado

BEST CROSSOVER SONG

Beautiful Girl – Sean Kingston

Watch Di Gyal Dem Roll – Sean Paul

Five O – Elephant Man featuring Wyclef

This Is Why I’m hot – Mims featuring Junior Reid

No One Remix – Alicia Keys featuring Junior Reid

BEST GOSPEL-ORIENTED SONG

More Life – Pap San

Back to The Owner – DJ Nicolas

God Is By My Side – Kerron Ennis

Lava Ground – Prodigal Son

Testify – Sherwin Gardener

BEST MALE DISC JOCKEY/RAPPER

Mavado

Beenie Man

Shaggy

Buju Banton

Munga Honourable

BEST FEMALE DISC JOCKEY/RAPPER

Lady G

Lady Saw

Queen Ifrica

Macka Diamond

D’Angel

BEST NEW ENTERTAINER

Munga Honourable

Sean Kingston

Barbee

Bugle

Demarco

BEST CALYPSO/SOCA ENTERTAINER

Shurwayne Winchester

Machel Montano

Destra

Bunji Garlin

Allison Hinds

BEST NEW REGGAETON ENTERTAINER

Daddy Yankee

Luny Tunes

Tego Calderon

Winsin y Yandel

Don Omar

BEST LATIN ENTERTAINER

Shakira

Marc Anthony

Juanes

Luis Miguel

Celia Cruz

BEST COMPAS/RACINE

Carimi

Nu Look

Sweet Micky

T-Vice

Zin

BEST AFRICAN ENTERTAINER

2face Idibia

Angelique Kidjo

Femi Kuti

Sierra Leone Refugee All Star

Lucky Dube Post Humous

BEST SOUKOUS ENTERTAINER

Koffi Olomide

Papa Wemba

Bouro Mpela

Fally Ipupa

Ferre Gola

MOST POPULAR HIP HOP ENTERTAINER

Akon

Jay-Z

Kanye West

Sean Kingston

Rihanna

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD MUSIC

Stephen Marley – Jamaica

Sly & Robbie – Jamaica

Magic Systeme – Ivory Coast

King Sunny Ade – Nigeria

Youssou N’Dour – Senegal

MOST OUTSTANDING STAGE PERSONALITY

Beenie Man

Buju Banton

Capleton

Elephant Man

Machel Montano

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

Church Heathen – Shaggy

The Days – Busy Signal

Traffic Jam – Stephen & Damion Marley

She’s Royal – Tarrus Riley

Roll It Gal – Allison Hinds

BEST POET

DYCR

Mutabaruka

Ras Mykal-Bermuda

Malachi Smith

Steppa

MOST CULTURAL/EDUCATIONAL ENTERTAINER

Buju Banton

Mutabaruka

Luciano

Morgan Heritage

Queen Ifrica

MOST OUTSTANDING SHOW BAND/GROUP

Steel Pulse

Morgan Heritage

TOK

Voice Mail

Third World

MOST CONSISTENT ENTERTAINER

Horace Andy

Freddie McGregor

Toots Hibbert

Marcia Griffiths

Beresford Hammond

MOST PROMISING ENTERTAINER

Gyptian

Kymani Marley

Brick & Lace

Wayne Wonder

Pressure

MOST IMPROVED ENTERTAINER

Junior Reid

Richie Stephens

Kymani Marley

Perfect

Collie Buddz

BEST INSTRUMENTALIST

Dean Frazer

Monty Alexander

Sly & Robbie

Dwight Pinkney

BEST BACKING BAND

Live Way

C – Sharp

Riddim- 2000 Band

Rough Stuff

New Kingston

MOST POPULAR SOUND SYSTEM/SELECTOR

Black Kat

Bass Odyssey

Sound Trooper

Mighty Crown

Stone Love

CONCERT OF THE YEAR

Reggae Sumfest – Jamaica

Summerjam – Germany

Irie Jam – New York City

Bob Marley Fest – Miami

Best of the Best – Miami

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

Rocker’s Island

Linkup Media

Raggamuffin Production

Sumfest Promotions

Irie Jam Media

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Big Yard (Sting, Robert Livingston)

Arif Cooper

Donovon ‘Don Corleon’ Bennett

Dean Fraser

Stephen ‘Genius’ MacGregor

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Tarrus Riley

Stephen Marley

Sean Kingston

Pressure

Mavado

EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE I AWARD FOR SPIRITUAL SERVICE THROUGH MUSIC

Lutan Fyah

Morgan Heritage

Luciano

Tony Rebel

Damian Marlet

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Movado-Connect Jamaica/Flow Jamaica

Capleton- Live Up Jamaica Campaign – Caribbean Broadcast Media

Richie Stephens- Upliftment Jamaica Foundation & Gary Foster

SPECIAL: MARCUS GARVEY HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Ziggy Marley

Jay-Z

SPECIAL: INTERNATIONAL REGGAE & WORLD MUSIC HALL OF FAME/LIFETIME INDUCTEES

Billy Ocean

Claudelle Clark

Errol Brown- Engineer

Winston Francis

SPECIAL: MARTIN’S INTERNATIONAL & ASSOCIATES AWARD OF HONOUR

To be announced later

SPECIAL: PRODUCER’S RESPECT AWARD

Kymani Marley