A true music connoisseur, Michael Dawson says he tries his utmost best to invest in the dancehall/reggae culture as much as possible.

Plagued by the harsh reality that Jamaicans rarely support their own, Dawson and his team at House of Dancehall decided to change that narrative.

He started the House of Dancehall Individual Awards back in 2017 and had hoped to expand on the ceremony in 2020 when the novel coronavirus struck.

With renewed calls for Jamaicans to establish and nurture an award ceremony built by Jamaicans for Jamaicans, Dawson, the CEO of Whirlwind Entertainment, which manages the Market Place Entertainment Centre for the Arts (MECA), is looking to start the MECA Awards this summer. He told OBSERVER ONLINE that the ceremony will focus not just on music but all aspects of the Jamaican culture.

“We had planned to celebrate Garvey week in August with the awards ceremony being a part of it. Our Awards show will focus on the Arts in general, including music, theatre, comedy, dance and a few unique categories for those involved in or in support of the Arts,” he said, indicating that the ‘all-inclusive’ aspect of the show will make it a standout on the entertainment scene.

“I think ours (Awards) will be different because MECA stands for Marketplace Entertainment Centre for the Arts, our facility is used by international reggae stars, Dancehall stalwarts, comedians, actors…they are also our frequent patrons…we consider them a part of the MECA family of support, so we are honoring our own …not as an outsider or an umbrella group,” he explained. “Honoring others is a sign of respect and I don’t think one can fail by showing respect. However, we must be inclusive to be considered fair and relevant and we will be inclusive.”

Dawson, who gave his ‘two cents’ on American Reggae group, SOJA, walking away with the Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category, said while he understands how the win may have been a sting for some, rather than feeling disrespected, people should use that energy to respect local award shows.

“I think it is odd to be insulted by how other people do their own things. Many countries have their Awards, their rules, their criterion…instead of feeling disrespect by others, I choose to use that energy and respect our own,” he said.

The MECA Awards will be largely digitalised and will be available for viewing on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and on Smart TV apps.