The Jamaican music industry came together for the first time to reward its peers on Sunday 24 February, the date of the first Reggae Academy Awards ceremony (see the nominees). In the middle of Reggae Month, Jamaica crowned Tarrus Riley, who scooped no fewer than 6 awards, if we count right, including best male singer and best reggae newcomer, as well as four others for his song She’s royal, both best reggae song and people's choice song, but also best reggae video (award given to director Rupert Campbell) and best reggae recording (award given to sound engineer Romel Marshall).
The award for best reggae album went to Stephen Marley's “Mind Control” (also nominated for best producer), while the award for best dancehall album went to Shaggy's “Intoxication” (who also gets the award for best dancehall video with his Church heathen remix by director Jay Will). Damian left with the award for best dancehall recording for One loaf a bread.
Still in dancehall, the title of best artist went to Lady Saw and Busy Signal, also rewarded for Nah go a jail, best song. Munga is the newcomer of the same category, while Brick and Lace received the award for best duo with Love is wicked. In reggae, it was the Daville / Sean Paul combination (Always on my mind) that was saluted. Etana took the award for best female singer and Collie Buddz that for best foreign artist. And as usual, one is tempted to say, Beenie Man was voted artist of the year.
Indirectly, VP Records also pockets two awards, that for best reggae compilation with Delmar Drummond's Jamdown Riddim Driven on the Danger Zone label and best dancehall compilation with Stephen McGregor's Tremor Riddim Driven on the Big Ship label. The same Tremor riddim was also nominated for dancehall riddim of the year, with Arif Cooper's Guardian angel its reggae alter ego. Note also that honorary awards went to Chris Blackwell and Ernest Ranglin for their respective work. And it was Prime Minister Bruce Golding in person who presented the Reggae Icon trophy to Rita Marley, who came to represent her husband.