The annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) widely recognised as the premier awards celebration honouring reggae and world music excellence, celebrates 43 years with a ceremony at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, this evening.

Founder, Ephraim Martin, is “feeling wonderful” at reaching this milestone, especially considering that after year 10, he was ready to say goodbye, since the main goal had been achieved, Nelson Mandela was free.

Martin never gets weary of recounting how, as a photographer at The Gleaner Company decades ago, he was always encouraged by people such as Bob Marley, Jacob Miller, Tommy Cowan and Peter Tosh to get more involved in the music business. That involvement would germinate the idea of a music awards which would assist in mobilising the fight against Apartheid in South Africa, where freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela, was imprisoned.