Emancipation award for Jamelody

JAMELODY, known as one of the sweetest voices on local reggae scene, will receive the Spirit of Emancipation Award 2018 for his contribution to culture through music.

“We have admired the way Jamelody has been able to uplift the people of TT with his songs. He has said his purpose, apart from sharing his talent with the world, was to provide words of encouragement and show the beauty of spirit,” Kadija Dyer, the youth officer at the Emancipation Support Committee (ESC), said in a media release.

Jamelody will receive the award on Friday at the Unity Concert which takes place at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village, Queen’s Park Savannah.

The ESC said the presentation of this award is its opportunity to acknowledge African people from TT and the diaspora who manifest excellence in their field of work and on behalf of the global African family. “It is given to those, through their example, personal dedication, and strength, demonstrated a commitment to their people, and helped to give them a sense of dignity and pride in themselves,” the release said.

“I am honoured to be acknowledged and chosen to receive this award from my country, Trinidad and Tobago’s Emancipation Support Committee for recognising my talent amongst our many black talents. I will continue to give my best and be an inspiration to my black brothers and sisters. With Jah, all things are possible. There is no we without him. Thanks again to the Emancipation Support Committee for the encouragement to keep going forward. This is an award for all,” said Jamelody on being selected for the award.

Jamelody, born Michael Williams, is the youngest of six children in a church-going family in Carenage. He sang in the church choir and his love for singing saw him performing at graduation at Point Cumana RC School. But it wasn’t until at secondary school, Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive, that his passion bloomed as he was part of the acapella group Brothers with Voices which did versions of popular R&B music by Boyz II Men, Take 6 and Brian McKnight.

Although the group was doing well at the clubs, Jamelody continued to look for other ways to fulfil his life. That’s when he met Nera Griffith who introduced him to Selassie I and Rastafarianism. In 2002, Michael Williams became Jamelody and released Never Let You Down, written by his wife, Nera.

Jamelody’s music has taken him Germany, Norway, Amsterdam, Australia, Holland, Canada, Atlanta, San Francisco and the Caribbean.

The concert, hosted by the ESC, will also feature Isasha and Ziggy Rankin, both recipients of the award in 2015 and 2016 respectively. This is the third time the Spirit of Emancipation Award will be given to a reggae artiste.

The cast of performers include Zion Star, Jah Z Blaze, Bucha, Kervern Carter, Jah Disciple, Orlando Octave, Kushite and Welete Yahosua.

For more info on the Youth Concert, check the ESC’s Facebook and Instagram pages.