The 43rd edition of the International Reggae And World Music Awards (IRAWMA) wrapped up its annual celebration of Caribbean and global roots music on May 17, hosted at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in South Florida’s Lauderhill. While a slew of talented artists took home honors across categories, the night’s biggest story was the sweeping success of iconic deejay Vybz Kartel, who claimed a total of nine awards, two of which were shared among collaborative partners.
Among Kartel’s most prestigious wins were the coveted Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of The Year, the Peter Tosh Award for Recording Artiste of The Year, and the Album of The Year honor for his Grammy-nominated project *Heart And Soul*. Additional accolades include the Gregory Isaacs Award For Best Song for his track *God is The Greatest*, the Jimmy Cliff Award For Best Crossover Song, Best Male DJ/Rapper, and Best Caribbean Entertainer. He split two honors with a high-profile group of collaborators: shared Best Music Video recognition for *You Remind Me* alongside DJ Khaled, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, and Mavado, as well as shared Best Collaboration (Reggae Song) for the same hit track.
Though Kartel was unable to attend the in-person ceremony, he marked the occasion with a heartfelt message shared publicly to his Instagram followers, expressing gratitude to the IRAWMA organizing committee for the recognition. In his post, he emphasized that awards in the genre do more than highlight individual success: they act as a critical force for protecting and promoting the cultural core of reggae and dancehall. He reminded audiences that these musical styles are far more than entertainment—they carry the weight of history, collective struggle, hard-won triumph, unyielding spiritual energy, and core cultural identity for communities around the world. For an artist, Kartel noted, recognition from industry peers stands as one of the highest possible honors, as acclaim carries deeper meaning when it comes from those who understand the full journey of building a career in the industry.
Beyond Kartel’s historic night of wins, the ceremony honored a wide range of standout talent across reggae, dancehall, and gospel genres. Shenseea claimed the title of Best Female DJ/rapper, Masicka took home the award for best EP for *Her Name Is Love*, Etana won Best Female Vocalist, and iconic artist Spice received the Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award. Richie Innocent was awarded the Mutabaruka Award for Best Poet/Spoken Word Entertainer, Sean Paul took home the honor for Most Popular Hurricane Melissa Song for his track *Faith We A Keep*, Popcaan won Best Entertainer/Social Media Influencer, and DJ Mac claimed the prestigious Producer of The Year title.
The ceremony also paid tribute to veteran trailblazers who have shaped the genre over decades, with veteran reggae artist Burning Spear and dancehall star Mavado both receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards. Gramps Morgan, part of the beloved reggae collective Morgan Heritage, earned two honors on the night: the Jacob Miller Award for Best Male Vocalist, and Best Inspirational Song for his track *People Like You*. Special honorary awards were also presented to a range of industry and artistic leaders, including Burning Spear, Wayne Armond of the iconic band Chalice, long-time booking agent George Crooks, rapper and producer DJ Khaled, Howard Chung of leading reggae label VP Records, and Mavado.
Gospel recording artist Dr Carlene Davis received the Shelvin L M Hall Best Gospel Entertainer Award, an honor created to recognize pioneering excellence in gospel reggae. In comments to the *Jamaica Observer*, Davis reflected on what the award meant to her, saying that receiving the honor served as a reminder of God’s purpose for her life and the work she was called to do. It reinforces the importance of staying committed to one’s core mission and remaining focused on that path, she added. Davis beat out a competitive field of fellow nominees including Papa San, Judith Gayle, Kevin Downswell, Prince Saj, DJ Nicholas, and Jason Mighty to take the prize. Beyond her individual award, her winning album *Songs of Zion* reached the number one spot on US gospel charts, with the album’s title track hitting number one in New York and number seven in the South Florida regional rankings.