First the organisers of the Jamaican music awards ceremony EME announced that rapper Trina is going to be honoured and now it’s rapper Eve’s turn.

Click HERE if you missed my previous commentary/rant regarding their first announcement.

Check out extracts from the press release I received today.

Kingston, Jamaica: Hip-Hop rapper, actress and successful designer Eve will be one of three international stars including TRINA and Jamerican comedian Rayzor who are confirmed to perform at the glitzy Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Awards, set to take place on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at The East Lawn of the historical Devon House site, Hope Road in Kingston, Jamaica.

The hip hop queen who in 2007 collaborated with Sean Paul on the reggae-tinged single “Give It To You,” came knocking on reggae’s door again in 2010, recording another successful collaboration with Dancehall Diva Lady Saw – “He’s at My House,” from Saw’s album “My Way.” The two female acts are expected to up the anti with a highly anticipated performance at the EME Awards in Kingston. It is the very first time they will perform their collaboration live and Saw can’t wait.

“I feel extremely excited about performing with Eve. We have been good friends for a while now. She loves Jamaica and is looking forward to performing with me at the EME Awards” Saw said.

Eve’s love affair with Jamaica was cemented from as far back as December 1999 when she joined Erykah Badu, Tracy Chapman, Jimmy Cliff, Toots Hibbert, Lauryn Hill, Queen Latifah and The Marley family at the beautiful James Bond Beach for a special performance at the ‘One Love – The Bob Marley All Star Tribute’ Concert that was filmed in Jamaica and later rebroadcast on TNT Network in the USA. Aside from performing at the EME Awards, Eve will be inducted as an “International Friend of Reggae” and will be recognised for her collaboration with Lady Saw which is currently blowing up in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.

The 2011 Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Awards will recognize the top reggae performers in approximately 30 award categories. Winners will be determined based on their performance on The Weekly Jamaica Music Countdown (Charts), votes via texts and votes at the website www.emeawards.com.

Again, I just don’t understand why US acts need to be honoured, just because they collaborated with a few Jamaican artists many moons ago and claim they “love Jamaica”. 

Why not just scrap that random “international friend to Reggae” foolishness and solely focus on honouring HOMEGROWN talent!