African rap phenom, Sarkodie, has won the award for “Best Virtual Showcase/ Concert Of The Year” for his 2020 “Black Love” concert at the International Reggae & World Music Awards – IRAWMA 2021. Amidst the Coronavirus sweeping the world, the scaled down to YouTube live broadcast of the 39th Jamaica music’s biggest night on Sunday night, May 16th from Jamaica, was an unbelievable success, without public audience.
In August 2020, the award-winning rapper held a historic virtual concert amassing millions of views online from music lovers in Ghana and the world at large. From start to finish, the entire show saw a variety of music acts and performances from both the old and the new. Held at the Independence Square in Osu, the performances on the night ranged from acts by Efya Nocturnal, Joey B, and King Promise to the very grand entry of the rapper, which was as iconic as the artist himself.
The Legendary Amakye Dede with some cool vibes with Sarkodie at Black Love Virtual Concert. As part of the night’s package, the show saw Sarkodie and Reggae Dancehall act Shatta Wale in an energetic performance, the first after close to five years of “feuding” between the two.
For other awards, Ghanaian Disk Jockey, DJ Switch, was adjudged the “Best Young Entertainer of the Year” while Kwame Yeboah emerged as the “Instrumentalist of the Year”.
The impetus behind the IRAWMA is its commitment to promoting greater participation and acceptance of Reggae, Caribbean and World Music, Internationally. Produced by Martin’s International , the IRAWMA has been staged in many major cities including: Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New Orleans, New York as well as Port of Spain, Trinidad and both Montego Bay and Ocho Rios in Jamaica.
The main highlight of the show that awed fans still has them talking was Sarkodie’s entry. Performing apex of the Independence Arch, the rapper stood next to the iconic Black Star, with choreographers positioned a step down, wielding lit torches.
