Incarcerated Jamaican King Vybz Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, and his former protege Popcaan, real name Andre Sutherland, were among the biggest winners at last weekend’s International Reggae and World Music Awards, IRAWMA, 2016.

The 35th Anniversary of the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) Fun-In-The-Sun Weekend” run from Friday September 30 – to Sunday October 2, 2016 providing a filled weekend of events that culminated with the 35th IRAWMA Show of Sunday October 2nd that honored and featured the best of Reggae, Calypso, Soca, Caribbean, Haitian, Latin, African, Gospel and other world music for 2015/2016.

This International Reggae and World Music Awards – IRAWMA is the only one of its kind, serving the Caribbean and African music industry for 35 years.

Vybz Kartel is still scoring big from behind bars. With his voiced going international on PartyNextDoor latest viral single Not Nice, and the absolute supremacy in the dancehall music genre, with new fans everyday and a list of hit songs that is infinite. 

The incarcerated Jamaican dancehall deejay, still one the baddest Jamaica ever known,

Kartel won Best Male DJ/Rapper at the 35th IRAWMA Awards, held in Coral Spring Florida this past Sunday.

LISTEN TO VYBZ KARTEL SONG ‘WIN’

Former Empire artisT Popcaan won Entertainer of The Year.

Despite his long incarcerationthat started toward the end of  2011, Vybz Kartel manages  not just to stay stably relevant inside the dancehall arena with a consistent supply of new songs, but he also set the pace for the genre itself, being the most selling artist in dancehall music right now, instantly topping music charts and with a solid team behind him, working hard for his well deserved success.

Female Jamaican Dancehall Queen Spice picked up the same award for Best Female DJ/Rapper. Spice is experiencing and consolidating her success internationally.

Other big winners of the night were Nesbeth,Pitbull, young and talented Skip Marley, Tarrus Riley, Inner circle, Major Lazer, Supa Sound.

Check the full list of winners for this 35th edition og IRAWMA AWARDS 2016 below.

35TH IRAWMA AWARDS 2016 – FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Best Gospel Song — If It Is Not You by Kevin Downswell
Best Male DJ/Rapper — Vybz Kartel
Best Female DJ/Rapper— Spice
Best New Entertainer — Skip Marley
Best Calypso/Soca Song — Teddyson John
Best Latin Song — Pitbull
Best African Song — Chop Kiss by Shatta Wale
Best Soukous Song — Selfie by Koffi Olomide
Best Belizean Entertainer — Lova Boy
Best R&B/Hip Hop Song — Work by Rihanna and Drake
Best Reggae-Rock Song — Slightly Stoopid for The Prophet
Best Chutney Entertainer — Shiva Lakhan
Best Music Video — Powerful by Major Lazer, featuring Tarrus Riley and Ellie Goulding
Best Spoken Word/Poet — Mutabaruka
Most Cultural/Educational Entertainer — Tarrus Riley
Most Outstanding Show Band/Group — Inner Circle


Most Consistent Entertainer— Yellowman
Most Promising Entertainer — Stonebwoy
Best Instrumentalist — Dean Fraser
Most Popular Sound System/Selector — Tony Matterhorn
Concert of the Year — Reggae Sumfest
Most Outstanding Dance Group — National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC)
Haitian Entertainer of the Year —JBeatz
Best Caribbean Entertainer — Beres Hammond
Recording Producer of The Year — Chimney Records
Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award —Cedella Marley
Entertainer of The Year (Florida) Rohan Gunter
Florida’s Best Haitian Entertainer — JBeatz
Best Latin Entertainer— Nicky Jam
Best Gospel Song — Papa San
Most Popular Dance DJ — Supa Sound
Award of Honour for Outstanding Contribution to the Music Industry — Michael Brown of Mikey B Promotions