Keznamdi Wins 2026 Grammy Award For ‘Best Reggae Album’
LOS ANGELES, CA – Jamaican recording artiste, Keznamdi, Sunday night won the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album defeating his follow Jamaican artistes to take the coveted prize in his first nomination for the album, Blxxd & Fyah.
The other four contenders were: Lila Iké (Treasure Self Love), Vybz Kartel (First Week Out), Jesse Royal (No Place Like Home), and Mortimer (From Within).
“Reggae music has always been a music weh defend truths and rights, and African liberation and black man redemption,” said Keznamdi in accepting the award, while applauding his parents and his team.
“We a represent Jamaican culture and dancehall and reggae,” said Keznamdi.
Machel Montano Makes History: Wins 12th Road March Title. Trinidad Carnival 2026
Machel Montano now stands alone at the summit of Road March history.
With “Encore” crowned the 2026 Road March winner, the Soca Monarch has secured a 12th title and broken a 50-year benchmark that stood untouched since Lord Kitchener’s final win in 1976. For decades, Kitchener’s 11 titles remained the number that defined Road March greatness. Now a new name sits at the pinnacle of the masquerade.
Just behind on the all-time leaderboard are Super Blue (Austin Lyons) with ten titles and Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) with eight, a reminder of how rare it is for any artiste to even approach this territory, far less cross it.
Trinidad Carnival Winners 2026:
Road March: Machel Montano
Calypso Monarch: Terri Lyons
Chutney Soca Monarch: Savita Singh
NACC Calypso Queen: Tameika Darius
BRING BACK THE STEEL PAN/BANDS FOR BROOKLYN LABOR DAY PARADE
History of the Steel Pan
Steel drums, also known as pans, are the only family of chromatic, acoustic instruments invented in the twentieth century. They hail from Trinidad, and their fascinating history is inextricably linked to the culture and resiliency of the Trinidadian people.
Ellie Mannette, Winston “Spree” Simon, and Tony Williams are credited as pioneers of the steel drum, creating the 12 notes of the chromatic scale on a single pan.
The steel drums have continued to evolve to this day. They are now the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, having ascended from the most depressed areas of society to glamorous concert halls around the world. They truly are the voice of a diverse, multi-cultural people.
