Poet Richie Innocent travels from his base in New York City to South Florida this weekend with high hopes of winning the Best Poet/Spoken Word Entertainer category at the International Reggae And World Music Awards (IRAWMA), which takes place March 30 at Coral Springs Center For The Arts.

It is the Jamaican artist’s seventh nomination in the category. The winner is presented with the Mutabaruka Award.

Marcia Jackson, last year’s winner, Amaziyah The Great, Judith Falloon-Reid, and Wise Wurdz are also contenders for Best Poet/Spoken Word Entertainer, which is decided by voting.

From St. Elizabeth parish in southern Jamaica, Richie Innocent launched his career 20 years ago and has released popular poems such as ‘Drugs fi Gun’ and ‘Careless Shotta’. He considers 2024 one of his most productive periods.

“It was an awesome year, I became an author with my first book of poetry, ‘Perseverance’, and I was busy spreading my wings, plus launching my poetry event ‘Richie Innocent And Friends’.  Thus, it was a year to launch poetry further into the choice of the masses. The bigger picture says remain positive and prepare for the winners circle,” said Richie Innocent.

The IRAWMA was first held in 1982 in Chicago by Jamaican Ephraim Martin, who is still at its helm. This year, singers Audley Rollen, Wayne Wonder and Joanna Marie will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards.

WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL