Although he was not in attendance, gospel minister and recording artiste Kevin Downswell emerged the big winner at the 2025 Sterling Gospel Music Awards.

The 9th staging of the event took place last Saturday evening at Emmanuel Apostolic Church in Portmore, St Catherine.

Downswell’s wins were Local Hit Producer of the Year, Local Hit of the Year, and Video of the Year.

Genesis Praise Squad took home the Breakout Sensation of the Year and Group of the Year honours, while an absent Chevelle Franklin won for Album of the Year (South Wind Vol 1) and Female Artiste of the Year.

Johnmark Wiggan, who went into the awards with a staggering eight nominations, shared the Collaboration of the Year award for Nuh More Dan Wi, a song he did with Prince Saj.

Prince Saj also won the award for Male Artiste of the Year. His near-tearful acceptance speech chronicled his humble and challenging beginnings.

“Dem say mi have a lot of lyrics, but right now mi have none. First of all, let me thank Christ. I’m coming from a place of homelessness, a place of abandonment and abuse in every way you can think of. I’ve been sending myself to school from I was 13 years old and it was rough. My mom, big har up, because we are building back our relationship”, said Prince Saj, who also indicated that his mother became a born again Christian after she learnt that he had given his life to Christ.

He also spoke about the deteriorated relationship he had with his father and how they managed to mend things before he passed away.

“I struggled to trust people when I came into the gospel music fraternity, but I met lovely brothers in Christ, like Johnmark Wiggan. Thank you all for supporting every one of us. We are not praying to win awards, but it’s good to win awards,” he said to rousing applause from the audience.

Other winners were Sebastian Braham, whose EP Fight This Battle For Me won EP of the year, Sheena Power Talk by Sheena Lyn-Hanson for Virtual Gospel Series of the Year, Sherwin Gardner for Caribbean Artiste of the Year, Ava Gay Blair-Black for Gospel Personality of the Year, Audience of One by Crosslinks Productions for Most Rated Event of the Year, Jamerican Gospel Show by Danville Howell for Online Radio Programme of the Year, and The Gospel Beat JA by Neison Williams on Gospel JA for Most Rated Radio Programme.

In a somewhat surprising win, DJ Noi took home the Gospel DJ of the Year trophy.

“God is good. Tonight I wanna say, first and foremost, a God do this. Thank you to Sterling Awards for recognising not just myself but all DJs and all the nominees. Big up, DJ Chinny, DJ Reburth, and all other DJs. Thank you for voting for me. See you at the next event”, said DJ Noi in his acceptance speech.

The KFC Big Deal Kingdom Stalwarts Award was presented to the family of the late Bishop Ronald Blair. Other recipients were bishops Everton Thomas, Rohan Edwards, Delford Davis, and Herro Blair.

Said Blair during his acceptance speech: “This moment causes all of us to reflect, not only on ourselves, but on the faithfulness of God over the many years. We have walked through the seasons of overflow, yet through it all the Lord has sustained and provided for us. I’m grateful for the communities that allowed us to serve their areas. This award belongs to them as much as it belongs to us. Thank you for this great honour.”

There were several spirited performances with Johnmark Wiggan and Prince Saj, 2024 Jamaica Gospel Star winner Jaida Messam, Coopy Bly from Uganda, and Raheim Betty, the 2025 Jamaica Gospel Star winner leading the charge.

Prince Saj (left) and Johnmark Wiggan in performance (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

The award for Collab of the Year, Nuh More Dan Wi, was presented to Prince Saj (left) and Johnmark Wiggan. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Gospel DJ of the Year DJ Noi accepts his award from Monique McLeggon. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)