10 FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida: History was made in South Florida on Monday, February 28, with the staging of the inaugural Jamaica International Music Awards (JIMA), and, as it turned out, a fitting climax to the monthlong celebrations of reggae, the global brand of Jamaica’s popular culture. THE VERY hot and Spice(y), was the only double winner on the night, taking home statues for Best Female Reggae/ Dancehall Album/EP 2021, as well as Song of the Year for her smashing collaboration with Shaggy and Sean Paul on Go Down Deh. Awards were presented in some 25 categories as follows; Best New Artiste – Shaniel Muir, Best Male Album/EP of the Year – Masika (438), Best Female Album of the Year – Spice (10), – Male, Best Gospel Reggae Artiste of the Year – Kevin Downswell, while Song of the Year went to Spice, Shaggy & Sean Paul’s Go Down Deh. Voters gave Best DJ of South Florida to Danger Kid, and Best DJ in Jamaica to DJ Kurt Riley. Special recognition awards were presented to former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness and Mayor Hazel Rogers for their contribution to the community. Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Carlton ‘Spragga Benz’ Grant and Ewart ‘Mad Cobra’ Brown, while Metro Media and Stone Love sound systems received the Industry Stalwart awards for their outstanding service to the music industry. The evening’s ceremony, an invitation-only affair, replete with red carpet interviews, cocktail hour, and a live band, was well attended. Guests included local politicians Mayor Hazel Rogers, of the city of Lauderdale Lakes; commissioners Ray Martin and Denise Grant of the city of Lauderhill; Deputy Mayor Jaquelin Guzman of the city of Sunrise; Broward County Sheriff ’s Department executive team, headed by Sheriff Gregory Tony, and former mayor of Broward County, Dale Holness. The music community was well represented by Spragga Benz, I-Octane, Visions Band, DJ Kurt Riley, South Florida’s noted music selector ‘Supa Twitch’, Lymy Murry, Honorebel, Kommercial Kings, among others. Event managers Kadene Chambers and Jeanniel Sterling expressed their gratitude for the support the event received from the music community and from local city officials in the cities of Sunrise, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, as well as the Broward County Sheriff executive team. “The event was a resounding success, and we are ecstatic at the turnout and the finished product. Everyone clearly had fun and appreciated the recognition shown for their hard work and successes. Our team did an amazing job and the repeated calls from Reggae and dancehall’s ‘Best of 2021’ recognised - Jamaica International Music Awards hosts inaugural ceremony Jamaica’s Kurt Riley (left) gets a very warm embrace from Kadene Chambers of JIMA Event Management Team, after he was voted Best DJ/Jamaica for 2021. CONTRIBUTED Spragga Benz says ‘thank you’. CONTRIBUTED Byiome ‘I Octane’ Muir flashes a smile after hewas presentedwith theHumanitarian Award for his contribution to the community through music. CONTRIBUTED THE MONTHLY GLEANER | APRIL 4 - 30, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | ENTERTAINMENT
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