Organised and promoted some four years ago by Guyanese Dheeraj Gayaram, the West Indian Music Awards (WIMA) were held last Saturday evening in Jamaica, New York.
Several individuals in various categories were recognised for their contributions to the music industry.
The WIMA was founded to recognise the best in musical entertainment, including musical DVDs, and song and dance TV programmes.
West Indian stars at the West Indian Music Awards, which was organised by Dheeraj Gayaram (second from right)
Other groups have their own music and film ethnic and community recognition awards banquets, so it is only fitting that West Indians have their own recognition, inclusive of all ethnic groups that constitute the region.
This is the first West Indian-organised music awards function for West Indians, and it is open to all ethnic groups from the West Indies and its diaspora. And it is truly inclusive, in that artistes from all ethnic groups are honoured, unlike what obtains when ethnic-exclusive groups honour artistes of their own background.
People of diverse ethnic backgrounds won awards for their contributions to West Indian music, including Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Guyanese, New Yorkers, etc. The West Indian Music Awards were totally dedicated to the music entertainment industry, including TV programmes that are geared towards a West Indian audience.
The awards honour vocalists, instrumentalists, composers, curators etc. The event honours both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in English, Hindi, and West Indian singing.
The organising committee was applauded for their work by speakers and community leaders.
“Dheeraj”, as he likes to be called, said he was motivated to start the awards ceremony because West Indians have been making a lot of contributions to the entertainment industry at home and abroad, and they have not been recognised for their hard work. And in this respect he was given a lot of encouragement. Dheeraj said: “I saw a need to honour people in their own talent departments, and so I started WIMA. Some 12 categories for award of musical entertainment were established.
We normally gave out one or two lifetime achievement awards for individuals who made outstanding contributions in the field of entertainment.
This year, we gave out four lifetime achievement awards because it is the last award in New York”. Dheeraj said he does not make the nomination or selection of winners. People make nominations for the various categories of recognition, and the voting to choose winners takes place online.
The WIMA event was graced with the presence of grand personalities and an impressive turnout of supporters. Joyce Urmilla Harris, Terry Gajraj and Ramesh Kalicharran were among those recognised for their lifetime contributions to music. Gajraj is wellknown for his hit songs; Kalicharran was a sponsor of musical collections; and Harris made several records.
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