By: Christopher Icey Jace Campbell
OutAroad.com Writer
It's unofficial until announced by the Hon. Prime Minister Bruce Golding but make no mistake February is strongly being hailed as the month to celebrate Jamaica's most prominent cultural genre REGGAE in all its glory. Still only the first week of the New Year and already activities are being planned for the Irie month, the most significant of which will without a doubt be the inaugural staging of the .
Now less than two months away the Awards Ceremony slated to unfold on Sunday February 24th at the National Indoors Sports Centre is fast becoming the talk of the Music fraternity. Why; The answer is simple - because for the first time ever in Jamaica such a distinguished and prestigious ceremony will highlight and award the creative excellence of Dancehall and Reggae Songwriters, Producers, Vocalists, Engineers and Video Directors based locally and abroad.
An initiative of the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica (RIAJam) the Award ceremony will break new ground as over 30 deserving individuals will be presented with an award stemming from four major categories - Reggae, Dancehall, Gospel and finally a General category that will host nominees of the - Best International Dancehall/Reggae Artist and the Best Music Producer awards with the other two sub categories Most Popular Artist and Most popular Song being determined by public voting.
Chairman of the Reggae Academy Lloyd Stanbury spoke with OutAroad.com recently and expressed confidence that the general public would support the Awards. "We will be going out to make the public aware of the Awards, we wont be sitting back leaving things to chance, there will be road shows across the island and we will be stopping in six different towns, all this to inform the public about important things like the business aspect of music. This Awards really belong to us all so I have confidence in the publics support. The two categories which will be determined by public voting are Most Popular Artist which has seven (7) nominees and Most Popular Song which has six (6). The Academy will have no say in determining a winner for these categories".
When asked about the list of Nominees Mr. Stanbury assured OutAroad.com it would be released soon. "The list has been completed and on January 14th that's next week Monday we will be having a Media Reception where we will announce the nominees in each category".
Among the long list of other confirmed activities planned for February is The Global Reggae 2008 Conference at the UWI Institute of Caribbean Studies, the Africa Unite - Smile Jamaica Concert said to be a Marley production - this on Saturday February 23rd at the James Bond Beach and also another inaugural showcase, the Reggae Film Festival which has received the full support of Minister of Information, Culture, Youth, Sports and Entertainment, the Hon. Olivia "Babsy" Grange. The Film Festival will run from February 20 - 22nd and will feature a number of film screenings the most anticipated of which is said to be "Roots Time" an amusing comedic piece by Argentinean director Silvestre Jacobi.
It will be 28 days of cultural celebrations, join the campaign now to make February the official month of Reggae.
for further information on the Academy visit www.reggaeacademy.com
Posted on January 7, 2008 13:07
this is very good for reggae and dancehall music, finally we have something thing that honor our own people.i just hope it's not just one year ting!!
Posted on January 9, 2008 08:33
Great. Finally suppen fi call wi own.
Only thing I fear is who compiled the preliminary list ?? Who did they leave off that should have been on there ?? Guess we'll just have to wait & see as Stanbury says.
Posted on January 11, 2008 10:31
ITS ABOUT TIME WE GET SOME GLORY, FOR OUR MUSIC
AND DANCE.
WELL DONE TO YOU ALL.
Posted on January 12, 2008 19:30
i would love to know is beenie and barbie really together