INTERNATIONAL REGGAE & WORLD MUSIC AWARDS
Ephraim M. Martin, entrepreneur, publisher and TV personality is the founder and chairman of three prestigious annual events: The Chicago Music Awards (CMA); The International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) and The International Festival of Life (IFOL). In 1982, Martin established Martin's International Culture a not for profit arts organization to promote the cultures, heritage, music, food, arts and overall way of life of African/Caribbean/Mexico/South and Central America and the United States.
Martin was the 2006 recipient of the prestigious Black Heritage Image Award: he was named among the top ten "People Who Rock Chicago" by New City, weekly newspaper; and was honored among the top fifteen African-American "Men Who Lead" at the Afrique Magazine Awards.
The mission of the International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA), established in 1982, is to acknowledge and honor the accomplishments and contributions of reggae and world music artists, including: songwriters, performers, promoters and musicians. 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 impetus behind the IRAWMA is its commitment to promoting greater participation and acceptance of Reggae, Caribbean and World Music, Internationally.
