‘Big up IRAWMA not a Drama’ wins big for History Man
Published:Friday | May 19, 2023 | 10:59 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Twenty-three years after claiming first prize at the popular Tastee Talent Contest, singer History Man created history by winning the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) inaugural Best Song contest. But, history would have recorded something different, had it not been for the fact that the closing date for entries was extended, giving History Man a mere two days to write, record, mix and master what would go on to become his winning entry.
“Dr Michael Barnett told me about the contest and I said I would enter, but I forgot about it. He called me again to say that the date and been extended and so I got on the job immediately. It’s history, not a mystery, so I had to do research on the awards and the founder Dr Ephraim Martin … and I must say that I learned a lot,” History Man said.
In celebration of IRAWMA’s 40th anniversary, the organisers introduced a category which invited singers to enter an original song with IRAWMA as the central theme. Five of the songs were then selected and voted on by the people. As an artiste whose catalogue is drenched with songs that tell stories from a cultural and historical perspective, this assignment was tailor-made for History Man.
The five finalists were Not A Grammy It’s IRAWMA Awards by Black Spade from Jamaica; Legendary by Jaymon from USA; IRAWMA Strong by Docta Flow from Ghana; IRAWMA 40th Reggae Love Song by Dainjah Rush from Jamaica/America; and Big Up IRAWMA not a Drama by History Man.
The official final list of top five best songs and artistes around the world was revealed on April 15, after which voting got under way.
Having listened to all the tracks, History Man said he knew that his song “had the edge” and he felt even more upbeat when he received a call from Ephraim Martin asking him if he would be available to perform Big Up IRAWMA Not a Drama at the red carpet awards show on May 7 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel.
“The closest song to mine was from a brother called Black Spade. But after that call from Mr Ephraim, I felt that I would win,” History Man said.
He added, “This is the fourth song contest that I am entering and I have won all of them. The first one was in 1997 when Popcaan [not the current deejay] used to host talent search; then in 1998 I won the Portmore Carnival Talent Series that Errol Wonder was a part of; Tastee in 2000 and now IRAWMA. I got a IRAWMA trophy and buss up the place with my performance at the event. The people loved it,” said a truly satisfied History Man, who has committed to keep on telling the history of Jamaica, in particular, through his songs.
History Man has 123 songs in his catalogue, among them Bob Marley History, Miss Lou History, Nine Prime Ministers of Jamaica History, Tribute to Peter Tosh, African Inventors, Canadian Prime Ministers and Obama Tribute. He has already released three albums and is currently working on his fourth.
“Mr Ephraim asked me why my music wasn’t circulating more … but there are a lot of reasons for that. I am my own producer, and I don’t have the budget to spend on marketing and promotion, but I do a lot on social media and I go into the schools a lot and teach the children through my songs. I was also an ambassador for the HIV/AIDS programme and every year I used to perform at the concerts. Everything add up together and is working. People all over the world are hearing my songs and I get most of my shows overseas. If it was for Jamaica alone, I would really suffer,” History Man shared.
History Man is hoping that his planned school tour will get off the ground next year because he believes that it is important to give children “clean, wholesome songs that are also informative and educational”.
“I know that there is a market for my type of songs. Radio in Jamaica maybe not be playing them, but when Jamaicans living in England, for example, order six copies of my songs to give to family members, this is proof that what I am doing has made a difference. In my travels, I have come across so much error about our history, that it is my mission to make sure that our stories are told by us, and that we control the narrative,” History Man said.