According to his website, Ephraim M. Martin, entrepreneur, publisher and TV personality, is the Founder and Chairman of four prestigious annual events. He brought one of them to T&T this weekend – The International Reggae & World Music Awards – and what a farce.
Back on his website: “The mission of the International Reggae & World Music Awards(IRAWMA), established in 1982 acknowledges and honors the accomplishments and contributions of reggae and world music artists, including: songwriters, performers, promoters and musicians. Produced by Martin’s International & Associates, the IRAWMA has been staged in many major cities including: Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New Orleans, New York, as well as both Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The impetus behind the IRAWMA is it’s commitment to promoting greater participation and acceptance of Reggae, Caribbean and World Music, internationally.”
Sounds noble, eh? After all who can not admire someone trying to promote our “greater participation and acceptance”. Award shows are win win win. The promoter (Mr Martin in this case) gets to upgrade his Lexus. The artistes get attention and lots of press, which they love. And the press get celebrity raw material to fill their papers and newscasts (especially on a long weekend, that’s manna from heaven for a news editor.) Win win win. (even sponsors win aligning their brands to celeb moments)
Except there is one more group to impress. The fans. This event never connected with T&T fans because they saw nothing in it for them. One good thing came out of the IRAWMA. We discovered an artist who is “the most improved”. His name is Iwer George.
