Voting is now in high gear for the 29th International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), set for Sunday May 2, at York College Performing Arts Centre, New York. According to the organisers, the competition is stiff and the global interest is high.

Jamaica’s singjay, Queen Ifrika leads the pack with nine nominations; Tarrus Riley follows with six; Machel Montano and Gramps Morgan, five each; Julian Marley, Sean Paul and Macka Diamond four nods; while Bar-bee, Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel have three nods each.

Four categories, the organisers say, can be anyone’s game: Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year (nominees are Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Machel Montano, Tarrus Riley and Julian Marley); Recording Artiste of the Year (Queen Ifrika, Vybz, Tarrus Riley, Mavado and Buju Banton); Best Male Vocalist (Tarrus Riley, Beres Hammond, Richie Spice, Daville and Gramps Morgan) and Best Female Vocalist (Queen Ifrika, Alison Hinds, Etana, Barbee and Cherine Anderson).

According to IRAWMA producer, Ephraim Martin, the Best African Entertainer category is making national news in Nigeria, Ghana and Mali. Nominees include Samini (Ghana), D’Banj (Nigeria), Femi Kuti (Nigeria), Amadou and Mariam (Mali) and 2Face Ibidia- (Nigeria). Although three of the nominees are from Nigeria where the news is big, it is Ghanaian nominee Samini who is the talk of his native country. The publisher of the African Spectrum Newspaper, Berko Akoto, is quoted as saying, “The news is so big I have already made my flight reservation to attend and cover the event.”

Among the performers for the 29th IRAWMA, are: Julian Marley, Machel Montano, Queen Ifrika, Tarrus Riley, Tony Rebel, Alison Hinds, Gramps Morgan, Macka Diamond, Bar-bee, Dean Fraser featuring Sherieta Lewis, Winsome Benjamin, New Kingston Band and a host of other international reggae, and world music superstars.