The 2024 Caribbean Music Awards took center stage on August 29 at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre, celebrating the vibrancy of Caribbean music and honoring legendary figures in the industry.
Marcia Griffiths received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Cedella Marley was recognized with the Legacy Award. The event, co-hosted by dancehall artist Spice and comedian Majah Hype, was streamed live on YouTube.
Marcia Griffiths, a reggae icon and former member of the I-Threes—Bob Marley’s renowned backing vocalists—was celebrated for her 60-year contribution to music.
Shaggy, the Grammy-winning artist, paid tribute to Griffiths, who was nominated for a Grammy Award just three years ago for her album One World. The night concluded with a powerful performance honoring Griffiths, featuring Tosh Alexander, Aiesha, Alaine, and Nadine Sutherland.
Cedella Marley, daughter of reggae legend Bob Marley and a three-time Grammy Award winner with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, was awarded the Legacy Award. In her acceptance speech,
Marley expressed deep gratitude, dedicating the award to her mother, Rita Marley, whom she described as her “shero.” Marley acknowledged the influence of her family’s legacy on her work, stating:
“I’m truly blessed to continue the legacy that my family built.”
The evening also featured several competitive awards, with Dexta Daps, the most nominated artist, winning Performer of the Year (Dancehall) after delivering a captivating performance.
Other major winners included Buju Banton, who took home Album of the Year (Reggae) for Born for Greatness, and Romeo Santos, who was named Artist of the Year (Latin Caribbean).
Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor received the Producer Award Honor for his contributions to the Caribbean music landscape. McGregor has produced for artists across multiple genres, including Sean Paul, Drake, and Vybz Kartel.
The Caribbean Music Awards, organized by the Caribbean Elite Group, recognizes outstanding achievements in Caribbean music.
This year’s awards spanned more than 40 categories, celebrating the diverse range of genres from reggae and dancehall to soca.
2024 Caribbean Music Awards: Complete Winners List
Competitive Categories
- 2023 Impact Award (Dancehall): 450
- 2023 Impact Award (Reggae): Mortimer
- 2023 Impact Award (Soca): Pumpa
- Album of the Year (Reggae): Buju Banton, Born for Greatness
- Album of the Year (Dancehall): Masicka, Generation of Kings
- Artist of the Year (Bouyon): Mr. Ridge
- Artist of the Year (French Caribbean): Kalash
- Artist of the Year (Latin Caribbean): Romeo Santos
- Artist of the Year Female (Dancehall): Shenseea
- Artist of the Year Female (Reggae): Lila Iké
- Artist of the Year Female (Soca): Patrice Roberts
- Artist of the Year Male (Dancehall): Valiant
- Artist of the Year Male (Reggae): Romain Virgo
- Artist of the Year Male (Soca): Skinny Fabulous
- Best New Artist (Dancehall): Rajah Wild
- Best New Artist (Reggae): Ras-II
- Best New Artist (Soca): Yung Bredda
- Collaboration of the Year (Soca): Nailah Blackman & Skinny Fabulous, “Come Home”
- Collaboration of the Year (Reggae): Shaggy & Kes, “Mood”
- Collaboration of the Year (Dancehall): Burna Boy & Byron Messia, “Talibans II”
- Cruise Event of the Year: Uber Soca
- Entertainer of the Year: Lee So Crazy
- International DJ of the Year: DJ Puffy
- Konpa Band of the Year: Zafem
- Music Event of the Year: Stink & Dutty
- People’s Choice (Powered by Spotify’s Frequency): Asa Bantan
- Performer of the Year (Dancehall): Dexta Daps
- Performer of the Year (Soca): Mr Killa
- Song of the Year (Dancehall): Byron Messia, “Talibans”
- Song of the Year (Soca): Bunji Garlin, “Hard Fete”
- Video of the Year (Dancehall): Tee Jay, “Drift”
- Video of the Year (Soca): Nailah Blackman & Skinny Fabulous, “Come Home”
Honorary Awards
- Lifetime Achievement Award Honor: Marcia Griffiths
- Elite Icon Award: Alison Hinds
- Legacy Award: Cedella Marley
- Artist of the Decade: Spice
- Konpa Award Honor: Tabou Combo
- Producer Award Honor: Di Genius
- Chutney Award Honor: Ravi B
- Gospel Award Honor: Sherwin Gardner
- Calypso Award Honor: Mighty Sparrow
The 2024 Caribbean Music Awards highlighted the rich cultural contributions of Caribbean artists, showcasing the enduring influence of legends like Marcia Griffiths and Cedella Marley on the global music scene.
