Ofori Amponsah For Martin's Special Award

The 25th Anniversary of the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), by Martin?s Inter-Culture and associates, goes to Harlem?s World Famous Apollo Theater, 253 West 125 Street, in New York City, Saturday, May 6th, commencing at 8:00 pm for general admission and 7:00pm for VIPs.

The official announcement and the releasing of the nominees were made, by Martin?s Inter-Culture, President Ephraim Martin, on Wednesday, at a Press Conference, co-sponsored by Rutland Road Golden Krust Bakery and held at the Jamaican Consulate, located at 767 Third Avenue, in New York City.

Some one hundred and fifty entertainers and music industry professionals were nominated and selected for special awards by music industry experts from around the globe.

Among the leading nominees for 2005 are: Elephant Man (8), Damian Marley and Sean Paul (6 each), Beenie Man and Jah Cure (5 each), while I Wayne, TOK, Luciano and Gyptian, each garnered four nominations.

Other reggae and world music nominees include: Sly and Robbie, Freddy McGregor, Buju Banton, Vybz Kartel, Akon, Shabba, Wyclef Jean, Sizzla, Macka Diamond, Machel Mantano, Kanye West, Shaggy, Rhianna, Rapper and Actor Will Smith, Daddy Yankee, Alton Ellis, Youssou N?Dour, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Marcia Griffiths, Capleton, Toots and the Maytels, Beres Hammond, Dean Fraser, Ernie Ranglin, Rupee, Matisyahu, Papa San, Carlene Davis, Third World, Burning Spear, Malachi Smith, Voicemail, Ding Dong and Richie Spice, among others.

Visit www.irawma.com to see and/or vote on all the nominees for 2005.

Special Awards: The inductees to this year?s International Reggae and World Music Hall of Fame are Eddy Grant, an outstanding Caribbean music producer and businessman, who can best be remembered for his hit song ?Electric Avenue?, and Alton Ellis, who is celebrating 50 years in the entertainment business this year.

Martin?s Inter-Culture Award of Honor will be awarded to: Clyde McKenzie, of Shocking Vibes Production, veteran producer/entertainer Glen Adams and Ofori Amponsah - African Highlife entertainer out of Ghana.

Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award will be bestowed on: Actor Danny Glover, Rock singer Bono and Activist/Entertainer Harry Belafonte. Special Award of Appreciation will be given to: Peter Schwartz- Agency Booking, Myshjua Archibald- Eight 76 Records, Cristy Barber- Tuff Gong Records, Massive B- Bobby Konder and Jabba, Lance O- Radio Disc Jockey, Andre Porter- Spoken Word/Poet/Writer, Jeff Sarge- Radio Disc Jockey and Junior- Ruff Stuff Band/Studio.

In a question to Mr. Martin regarding the performers for this year, he told the media that the performers will be announced later; but Ms. Cristy Barber, President of Tuff Gong International, told the media that their artist Damian ?Junior Gong? Marley, who is nominated in six categories is expected to be among the performers on May 6th, at the Silver Anniversary Celebration of IRAWMA. This remark gained great applause from the media representatives.

Tickets for this star-studded, made-for-television event are now on sale at the Apollo Theater box office (212) 531-5305 and thru Ticketmaster.com, 212/307-7171 and all Ticketmaster outlets.

VIP Diamond box tickets are available only from Martin?s Inter-Culture 877/9-REGGAE ((973-4423). The tickets are: General admission $50, VIP Gold $99, VIP Platinum $125 and VIP Diamond box $1,000 per seat or $5,000 per box for five persons.

The International Reggae and World Music Awards produced by Martin?s Inter-Culture, annually honors the best in reggae and world beat music at the global level.

Each year, the experts in the reggae and world music industry select the nominees; after which reggae and world music fans and the general public then vote for the winners.

To participate in the process and help to select the
winners in the various categories, you may vote online www.internationalmusicawards.com, www.martinsinterculture.com, www.irawma.com, or mail in your ballot to: IRAWMA-c/o: Martin?s Inter-Culture, P.O. Box 5836, Chicago, Illinois 60680.

Ballots are available in various newspapers, restaurants and record stores. Ballots may be requested by sending your request to e-mail: Irawma@aol.com, according to Awards Producer Ephraim Martin.

For this 25th IRAWMA anniversary, Martin?s Inter-Culture joined forces with partners: KHEMETCOM- Michelle Thomas, a well known National Television Marketing Syndication Executive, and other individual partners including Austin McBean, Clifton Edwards and D.A. Whyte to produce a top flight event, which is expected to be televised in the United States and several other countries where broadcasters are seeking licensing rights for this special and unique Awards event.

In her remarks, Ms. Michelle Thomas - CEO of KHEMETCOM ENTERTAINMENT told the media of plans to have the 25th IRAWMA syndicated throughout the United States, and to be televised in several countries on all five continents worldwide.

In addition, on the night of the Awards, her company KHEMETCOM is working on the possibility of having live satellite links to Jamaica, London and Ghana - West Africa, which will allow people from surrounding Islands and countries to go to any of the satellite locations to be a part of the 25th IRAWMA celebration.

The official sponsors for the event will be announced soon, among them are: African Spectrum Newspapers, Caribbean Life and Rutland Road Golden Krust, which partially sponsored the Press Conference.

The conference was moderated by Mr. Aubrey Campbell - Information Attache, for Jamaica Information Service (JIS) in New York.

For general information or to participate as a sponsor, category sponsor or to advertise in the Awards magazine, call 877/9-REGGAE (877/973-4423), 312/427-0266 or visit the web pages at www.internationalmusicawards.com. The e-mail addresses are Irawma@aol.com and reggaeintl@aol.com.