Caribbean Music Awards stages first Trinidad and Tobago edition, honouring Patra and Calypso Rose
Shenseea, Valiant, Kes, Lila Iké and Buju Banton were among winners at the fourth annual awards at NAPA in Port of Spain.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad. The Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) has concluded its first Elite Weekend Experience in Trinidad and Tobago, bringing more than 100 artists and creatives together with media, industry professionals and audiences at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain, organisers said on September 28.
The fourth annual awards, themed "Sounds of the Caribbean", were the first staged in Trinidad and Tobago.
The weekend opened on September 17 with industry conversations, including "Caribbean Music in the Global Space", featuring Kyle Denis of Billboard, Island Music Conference founder Judith Bodley and CMA-nominated artist Keshav. Topics included moving beyond a survival economy, the challenges of scale in small island markets and whether greater regional unity could strengthen the global pathway for Caribbean music.
A welcome reception on September 18 featured remarks from Satyakama Maharaj, Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Trade, Investment and Tourism.
Honours
The awards, hosted by Majah Hype and Nailah Blackman, featured performances from 1T1, Theomaa, FreeTown Collective, V'ghn, 450, Jah Mason and others. More than 50 media outlets covered the red carpet, which was streamed by Trace and Billboard.
Patra received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Calypso Rose the Elite Calypso Award, Alan Cavé the Elite Konpa Award and Shyne the Global Ambassador Award.
Selected winners
Female Dancehall Artist of the Year went to Shenseea and Male Dancehall Artist of the Year to Valiant. Ayetian won Dancehall Best New Artist and the Dancehall Impact Award, and Ding Dong was named Dancehall Performer of the Year.
In soca, Kes won Male Soca Artist and Soca Performer of the Year, and Lady Lava was Female Soca Artist of the Year. "The Greatest Bend Over" by Yung Bredda and Full Blown took Soca Song of the Year.
Lila Iké and Buju Banton were the top reggae artists, Chronixx's "Exile" won Reggae Album of the Year and Protoje's "BIG 45" Reggae Song of the Year.
Ravi B was named Chutney Soca Artist of the Year, Mr. Ridge Bouyon Artist of the Year and Joé Dwèt Filé both French Caribbean Artist and Konpa Artist of the Year. Bad Bunny won Latin Caribbean Artist of the Year.
The Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival was named Music Festival of the Year, and Alkaline won the People's Choice Award.
