Belizean politician and recording artist Shyne will receive the Global Ambassador Honour at the fourth annual Caribbean Music Awards (CMA). The award ceremony takes place on Saturday September 19 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Trinidad and Tobago.
According to the CMA, “Shyne will receive the Global Ambassador Honour in recognition of his evolution from internationally acclaimed recording artist to cultural leader, humanitarian, and global advocate for Belize and the Caribbean. Following the success of his 2000 self-titled debut on Bad Boy Records, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and earned Gold certification, Shyne has dedicated himself to public service, youth empowerment, and cultural advancement while serving as Belize’s Music and Goodwill Ambassador.”
Shyne is one of four honourees being recognised this year under the ceremony’s theme, “Sounds of the Caribbean”, celebrating cultural figures whose work has helped shape the global reach of Caribbean music.
Jamaican dancehall star Patra will receive the Lifetime Achievement Honour, recognising her groundbreaking career and lasting influence on dancehall, reggae, and global Black music. Her 1993 debut album, Queen of the Pack, released through Epic Records, made history as the first album by a Jamaican female artist to reach number one on Billboard’s reggae albums chart and was later certified gold in the United States. Her crossover presence also extended into American hip-hop culture through appearances in music videos for artists including The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, with her distinctive style and commanding presence helping pave the way for a new generation of female dancehall artists.
Tobago-born calypso icon Calypso Rose will receive the Elite Calypso Honour, celebrating her legendary contributions to Caribbean music and her role in bringing calypso to audiences worldwide. A trailblazer for women in music, Calypso Rose has spent more than six decades shaping the genre, making history as the first woman to win Trinidad and Tobago’s Road March title and achieving global recognition with milestones including her platinum-selling album Far From Home.
Haitian-American singer-songwriter Alan Cavé will receive the Elite Konpa Honour, recognising his extraordinary influence on Haitian music and the global Konpa movement. Known as the “King of Kompa Love”, Cavé has spent more than three decades defining the genre through his songwriting, vocals, and influential work both as a member of the band Zin and as a celebrated solo artist, inspiring generations of musicians across the Caribbean and its diaspora.
The four honourees will be celebrated as part of the Caribbean Music Awards Elite Weekend Experience, a three-day destination celebration running September 18th through 20th throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
