At the fourth staging of the Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards, (EME) two international super stars, Akon and Alicia Keys will be honoured for the continued support of reggae music.

Among the 25 categories in the EME Awards is one called International Friends of Reggae, and the organisers have announced that Akon and Keys have been selected as this year’s recepients. The event takes place at The Gardens of the Pegasus on Thursday, February 7.

Senegalese hip-hop mastermind Akon is very popular in the dancehall and has a large fan base locally. He has visited Jamaica on several occasions where he has interacted with artistes and got intimate wih the music. Akon recently completed a collaboration with Shaggy, What’s Love, a single that fuses Shaggy’s macho hardcore deejaying with Akon’s flowing R&B hooks. Female artiste Tami Chynn was recently in Atlanta working on her upcoming album with Akon, who is reportedly producing some of the tracks. Interestingly, the two were spotted together last November at the American Music Awards (AMA).

In one single night, Alicia Keys arguably did more for reggae than a lot of people have taken years to do. At the AMAs, Keys called on stage Junior Reid, Chakademus and Pliers and Beenie Man to perform with her live in front of millions of people. It was an awesome, electrifying performance that is still talked about today.

According to the organisers, plans are underway to have Akon come in person to accept this honour award.