The gold rush is on! Fans are calling for the gold and platinum tickets and they are voting by the thousands. The competition is tight and the question is asked; who will take home the IRAWMA statue?  The 29th International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) is set for Sunday May 2, 2010 at York College Performing Arts Center, 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd, Queens, New York.  

Jamaica’s sing/jay Queen Ifrika leads the pack with nine nominations; Tarrus Riley follows with six; Machel Montano and Gramps Morgan, five each; Julian Marley, Sean Paul and Macka Diamond four nods; while Barbee, Beenieman and Vybz Kartel have three nods each. Competition is stiff and the global interest is high. 

Four categories can be anyone’s game.  Bob Marley Award for Entertainer of the Year: squaring off are Sean Paul , Beenieman, Machel Montano, Tarrus Riley and Julian Marley(son of Bob Marley in whose honor this category is given). Recording Artist of the Year: Queen Ifrika, Vybz, Tarrus Riley, Mavado and Buju Banton are in a fierce contest for the IRAWMA. Best Male Vocalist: Tarrus Riley, Beres Hammond, Richie Spice, Daville and Gramps Morgan are in for a tense vocal race. On the female side, Best Female Vocalist, Queen Ifrika, Alison Hinds, Etana, Barbee and Cherine Anderson, square off in. And the winners are? 

According to IRAWMA producer Ephraim Martin the “Best African Entertainer” category is making national news in Nigeria, Ghana and Mali. Nominees include: Samini-(Ghana), D’Banj- (Nigeria), Femi Kuti- (Nigeria), Amadou and Mariam- (Mali) and 2Face Ibidia- (Nigeria). Although three of the nominees are from Nigeria where the news is big, it is Ghanaian nominee Samini that is the talk of his native country. African Spectrum Newspaper publisher, Berko Akoto says “the news is so big I have already made my flight reservation to attend and cover the event.”