An exciting and eclectic fusion of reggae and world music is set to explode in T&T on May 28, 2011, when the 30th instalment of the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) is staged in Port-of-Spain.T&T was selected over 15 countries, including Ghana, Guadeloupe, Jamaica and Nigeria, which were also vying to host the star-studded celebration.
Next year's event will also see the debut of chutney music as an official World Music category in IRAWMA.Producer of Martin's International & Associates and IRAWMA president Ephraim Martin said T&T was an "obvious choice" as the chutney art form was making waves internationally.He added that the panel of judges for the awards would be working closely with the chutney community to ensure that the right artistes were selected.
Martin was also in high praise of soca heavyweight Machel Montano, who was among the show's top winners for the last three consecutive years, and who he said had catapulted soca music onto the international stage. Martin said that over the years, T&T's artistes like Roaring Lion, Calypso Rose and Lord Kitchener were named IRAWMA's Lifetime Awardees.
Martin made the comments during IRAWMA's media launch at TSTT Corporate Box, Queen's Park Oval, on Wednesday.Noting that ballots would be distributed worldwide, he disclosed that nominees for the awards would be chosen based on criteria including originality, sales and appearances. As for the show's venue, Martin said he was "looking at" The National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA).
And although the Port-of-Spain building could accommodate just about 1,200 people, Martin assured that it would be designed to hold the approximate 5,000 visitors expected for the red-carpet affair. "We are proposing to close off the area so that the red carpet can be laid out and we can accommodate people in the external space of the venue," he said.
He also disclosed that popular designer Bruce Williams may be designing the venue for next year's event.Meanwhile, vice president Donovan Neita said T&T stood to gain significantly from IRAWMA, as music enthusiasts from around the world were already making plans to visit the country for the awards.
"People in London and Paris are looking to get a chartered flight into Trinidad for the event. Also, people from other islands who may have a problem with flights to come for the awards are looking to put together charter programmes."He added: "It will be a tremendous economic boost for T&T...It offers tremendous opportunity to showcase T&T's people and culture. This being our 30th year, makes it an extra special event."
Neita said that over the next few months, preparations would be moving apace to ensure that everything was in place for the show.
"They will be talking about T&T as the place to go not only for Carnival but for other parts of the year...We are here to tell the world that we're in Trinidad and we are looking forward to it," he said.
Dexter Lal of Angostura and TSTT's Rhonda Lee Yhapp said their organisations were happy to be sponsors of IRAWMA, which they said would serve to boost the image of T&T and showcase local culture to the world.
n For more info, visit: www.irawma.com/www.caribbeanmusic.co