Article published by the Jamaica Observer
gospel awards come of age
Observer Reporter
Friday, March 24, 2006
Senator Delano Franklin (right) talks with Sandra Morgan of Victoria Mutual and Fitzroy Gordon (left) of MAJA Awards
In an event that may well prove to match the final gala in terms of length, the Maja Awards project was officially presented to the public this Tuesday at the Jampro press room.
The gala is scheduled for June 10 and 11 at the Hilton, a timing that puts it in direct coincidence with the scheduled Jamaican Diaspora conference being organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
The awards are the brainchild of Jamaican-born Canadian Fitzroy Gordon, who told persons present of the quirky story by which the event got its name. "i was in my car, listening to [gospel great] Mahalia Jackson and all the while I was thinking about doing something that could really touch lives while at the same time giving a forum to all the talent available. Then I noticed, for some reason the first two letters in the singer's name and it spelled 'Ma-Ja' and it struck me that this is something 'major' (may-ja), and so I took it from there."
First held in 1985, the Maja has grown from being a Toronto area affair to a nationwide Canadian awards over its 20-year span. Taking it to Jamaica, Gordon said, was "the icing on the cake." |