Dancehall veterans Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and Buju Banton were the toast of the International Reggae And World Music Awards (IRAWMA) on March 30 at Coral Springs Center For the Arts in South Florida.

Each artiste won two categories, with Buju Banton earning the Emperor of Reggae & World Music – Hon Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of The Year.

He was also voted Best Male DJ/Rapper.

Last year was a big one for the lanky Buju Banton, whose Overcomer Tour played to packed houses in the United States and Canada.

Beenie Man’s wins were for Best Dancehall Stagecraft Entertainer and Best Caribbean Entertainer.

Bounty Killer and Shatta Wale’s Commando won for Best Crossover Song; his second accolade was the Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award.

Vybz Kartel, who was released from prison last summer after serving 13 years behind bars, won the Peter Tosh Award for Recording Artiste of the Year.

Freedom Street, his epic comeback show at the National Stadium on New Year’s Eve, was selected Concert Of The Year.

Best Song went to Happy Birthday by Busy Signal; Shenseea won Best Female DJ/Rapper; the Jacob Miller Award for Best Male Vocalist was awarded to Christopher Martin; Best Female Vocalist went to Alaine; Best Album/CD going to Bob Marley: One Love – Various Artistes, music inspired by the film.

For the second-straight year, Marcia Jackson won the Mutabaruka Award for Best Poet/Spoken Word Entertainer.

Nigy Boy and YG Marley shared the Best New Entertainer Award.

Three veteran singers were recognised with Lifetime Achievement Awards — Audley Rollen, Wayne Wonder and Joanna Marie.

Rollen, whose career started in the late 1950s as a novelty act on the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour talent series, began his recording career in the mid-1960s.

“I am humbled to receive a Diamond Lifetime Achievement Award at the 42nd annual International Reggae And World Music Awards for my contribution of over 65 years towards the growth and development of our great reggae music,” said Rollen, an ordained minister of religion in Florida.

“I am still energised and motivated to be creative. I still have the love and joy for what I do. What keeps me singing and writing after all these years is the fact that it’s one of the joys of my life,” he continued.

The IRAWMA was first held in Chicago in 1982 by Jamaican Ephraim Martin, a former journalist. He is still its main organiser.