Morgan Heritage grateful for CMA nomination for ‘The Homeland’
Published:Tuesday | July 9, 2024 | 12:09 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Sibling group Morgan Heritage has been nominated for this year’s Caribbean Music Awards in the Album of the Year, (Reggae) category, for The Homeland, an album that the group says it “took a chance on in terms of the musical experimentation”.
A 21-track offering, The Homeland was officially released on April 21, 2023, and débuted at number one on the US iTunes World Music Albums chart. At that time, it was noted that “the collection marks a new era for Morgan Heritage – currently comprising the Trinity: Peetah Morgan, Gramps Morgan, and Mr Mojo Morgan”. In a cruel twist of fate, 10 months after the release, one-third of the Trinity, lead singer, Peetah, passed away from a “one in a million medical condition”.
The Homeland, which has been described as “a project of rebirth for the Morgan brothers”, was one of the ways in which the dynamic group sought to further their reach throughout the Caribbean, right through to the motherland, Africa. Guesting on The Homeland are artistes such as Shaggy, Beenie Man, Popcaan, Shatta Wale, Ice Queen Cleo, Youssou N’Dour, Mádé Kuti, Alpha Blondy, Otile Brown, Eddy Kenzo, Busy Signal, Capleton, and Stonebwoy.
For many reasons, this nomination means a lot for the brothers, who are the children of the late reggae icon Denroy Morgan. Presented by the Caribbean Elite Group, the Caribbean Music Awards “recognises artistes, producers, and industry professionals who have significantly contributed to the Caribbean music landscape”.
“It’s been a long time since there has been an awards show that appeals to the entire Caribbean and not just our beloved Jamaican music in reggae and dancehall,” Mr Mojo told The Gleaner.
“And to see a platform created such as this ... and to take part in the event last year presenting our big brother Beres Hammond [with] an icon award ... it was a historic moment for us. And to be nominated this year for an album that we took a chance on that we did by infusing African music with Jamaican music in reggae and dancehall, it’s nothing short of amazing. We are grateful for the acknowledgement in being nominated for Album of the Year as well as Collaboration of the Year, which features Bounty Killer, Baby Cham, and Stonebwoy on a song from that album entitled Who De Like Yuh,” he continued.
Who Deh Like U made its début at number one on the US iTunes Afrobeats chart.
The other projects in the Caribbean Music Awards Album of the Year (Reggae) category are Born For Greatness, Buju Banton; Take It Easy, Collie Buddz; Golden, Marcia Griffiths; Old Soul, Stephen Marley; The I-Grade, Sizzla; and Colors of Royal, Julian Marley & Antaeus.
For 2024, dancehall artiste Dexta Daps leads the nominations overall, having received eight nods, among them Artiste of the Year (Dancehall), where he is up against Masicka, Valiant, TeeJay, Popcaan, 450, and Byron Messia; Performer of the Year (Dancehall); Collaboration of the Year (Dancehall), also in the Reggae category; and the People’s Choice Award.
Following closely are Skinny Fabulous, who received six nominations; and Masicka, Yung Bredda, Bounty Killer, and Machel Montano, with five each. Securing four nominations each are Cham, Rajah Wild, TeeJay, Asa Bantan, Byron Messia, Patrice Roberts, Nailah Blackman, and Problem Child.
There are more than 40 categories covering genres including reggae, soca, and dancehall.
New categories this year include French Caribbean, Latin Caribbean, and Bouyon Artiste of the Year, International DJ, and honours for chutney, calypso, and konpa.
Queen of Reggae, Marcia Griffiths, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award; Queen of Soca, Alison Hinds, will receive the Elite Icon Award; and Cedella Marley, the daughter of Bob and Rita Marley and the mother of Skip Marley, will receive the Legacy Award.
The event is scheduled for August 29 at King Theatre in Brooklyn, New York.