Dr. Slinger ‘Mighty Sparrow’ Francisco of Trinidad and Tobago received the special Master of the Caribbean Award at the recent 28^th International Reggae World Music Awards held at the campus of York University in Queens, New York. The awards ceremony was dedicated this year to Barack Obama, as first black president of the United States, and included a special award category for “Best Song Tribute to Barack Obama,” which the Sparrow, who penned the earliest Obama tribute song during the presidential campaign, lost to veteran reggae recording artiste Coco Tea. Other honorees included Jamaican Minister if Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia Grange, who was recognized for her successful career as a record producer and manager; 2008 Olympic Games triple gold medalist Usain Bolt; Orville “Shaggy” Burrell, who received the Marcus Garvey Humanitarian Award; Beres Hammond, honored as   Entertainer of the Year; Etana, winner of Best Album for Strong One; Queen Ifrica, Best Female DJ/Rapper; and Mavado, Recording Artist of the Year.

The IRAWMA is the oldest and longest running show honoring reggae and world music.