Second staging of MECA Awards set for December 27
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Delivering on its promise of producing a Jamaican-based entertainment awards show where the nominations and voting would be open to the public, the Marketplace Entertainment Centre for the Arts (MECA) last year staged its inaugural MECA Awards. The ceremony which was held in December saw artistes such as Skeng, Valiant and Koffee walking away big winners on the night. Pleased with the outcome of its first staging, CEO of MECA, Michael Dawson says he is looking forward to the event’s return this December.
“MECA is thrilled to announce the second staging of its award,” Dawson expressed in a release. “It will be a night dedicated to celebrating and honouring excellence in the arts and will be held at MECA on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, commencing at 8:00 pm. It promises to be an unforgettable evening, where we continue to shine a spotlight on outstanding talents and contributions in the world of arts and entertainment.”
Speaking further with Observer Online, Dawson highlighted that similar to the year before, he and his team will stand firmly on their mantra of “Fiwi Entertainment, Fiwi Votes.”
“The MECA Awards should be viewed as a legitimate representation of the industry today as their Marketplace venue in Kingston is the premier hotspot for Jamaica’s nightlife. MECA has long been a symbol of recognition and appreciation for upcoming artistes, performers, and creators who have left an indelible mark on the arts and entertainment industry,” he said. “This year we continue the tradition of acknowledging those who have made significant contributions to music, dance, theater, and beyond.”
Nominations for the awards closed on Sunday, October 22 and Dawson revealed that the process raked in close to 3,000 authentic nominations in the various categories.
Like last year, this year’s awards will see presentations made in categories such a Male and Female Dancehall Artiste of the Year, Dancer of the Year, Producer of the Year, Comedian of the Year and a host of others. Voting opened on Wednesday, October 25.