21/08/2025
PRESS RELEASE
CARIBBEAN GOSPEL MUSIC CELEBRATED DURING MARLIN AWARDS 2025. JOSHUA ALI EMERGE AS THIS YEAR’S TOP WINNER AND EDISON SUMNER & VOICES OF PRAISE ARE THE 2025 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS.
Scores of gospel music lovers and industry professionals along with many of the most well-known names in Caribbean Gospel Music convened on the Island of New Providence in the picturesque Nassau, Bahamas for the staging of the 29th Anniversary of the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards ceremony. The highly anticipated global event, which took place on Sunday July 27th, 2025, at the Myles E Munroe Diplomat Center attracted a diverse mix of Bahamian and Caribbean gospel recording artists and industry professionals representing several countries within the region and around the world. There was a total of fifty-six (56) categories this year and out of which thirty-five (35) were presented during the live televised broadcast.
Trinidad & Tobago singer, songwriter & producer Joshua Ali emerged as the top winner of the 2025 Marlin Awards with a total of four (4) awards including Outstanding DJ Vocal Collaboration for his dancehall track “Brace Up” featuring XG Rox, Outstanding Praise & Worship Recording Duo or Group for his original worship anthem “Goodness” featuring Jai Symone and Outstanding Album for his Caribbean infused sonic offering “Reset”. Joshua also created one of the biggest upsets of the evening when he won the award of Outstanding Producer, officially ending the three consecutive wins by fellow Trinidad native, recording artist and producer Reuel Lynch. However, Lynch would not walk away empty handed, he won the Marlin Award for Outstanding Dancehall Recording for his track “D.N.A (Do Not Aggravate (Victory)”.
Also winning big was seventeen-year-old female singer, songwriter and first-time nominee Alyssa Jospeh, also from Trinidad & Tobago, who took home two (2) major awards, Outstanding New Artist and one of the newly created categories, Outstanding Afro-Pop Recording Female for her top single “Kingdom Daughter”. Bahamian gospel soloist and songwriter Cara T Newton also won big, claiming two awards including Outstanding Junkanoo Rake & Scrape Recording for her major hit single “Move Again” featuring Bishop Simeon Outten and Outstanding Black Gospel Recording Duo or Group for the song “War Cry” by Christopher Roberts featuring Cara T. Newton. Bahamian male vocalist Davian Chase took home his first two Marlin Awards including Outstanding Junkanoo Rake & Scrape Recording Solo for his single “My My My” and Outstanding Black Gospel Recording Male for “Let the Nations Sing”.
Bahamians placed their stamp on the awards by winning all three of the Black Gospel categories rounding out with female powerhouse Joinae Gibson who clinched her very first Marlin Award in the Outstanding Black Gospel Recording Female category for her popular single “Arise”. Bahamians also won the Outstanding Choir/Chorale category for the second time in a row; this time Edison Sumner & Voices of Praise secured the award for the Bahamas with their single “Marvelous”.
Bahamian gospel reggae recording artist Akeem Gardiner also won his first two Marlin Awards, one for Outstanding Inspirational Recording Male for his acoustic driven single “Other Side” and the other for Outstanding Reggae Vocal Performance Duo or Group for the single and title of his latest album, Heart’s Song. Akeem shared this award with his wife Michelle Gardiner who was a guest vocalist on the single.
Caribbean Gospel music veteran Sherwin Gardiner picked up two Marlin Awards as a solo artist including one for Outstanding Afro Pop Recording Male for his global hit “Find Me Here”. Gardner also earned one the evenings top awards, Outstanding Song also for his single “Find Me Here (Blessings Find Me)”, considered one of the biggest singles of 2024. Sherwin won a third award for his vocal contribution on the track “Follow”, a single recorded and released by Bahamian newcomer Colyn Kristopher, who won his first Marlin Award for this song in the category of Outstanding Caribbean Pop Recording Duo or Group.
Singer and songwriter John Yarde won two awards for Barbados, his first, including one for Outstanding Contemporary Recording for his single “Friend in Me” and another for Outstanding Seasonal Recording for his yuletide single “Christmas Without You”.
Multiple Marlin Award winner Marc Isaacs from Trinidad & Tobago walked in with three nominations and walked out with two awards including the award for Outstanding Calypso Soca Vocal Performance Duo or Group for the single “Til Morning” featuring Farenite and Outstanding Soca Recording for his international Soca hit single “Open De Gate” featuring Blessed Messenger. Guyanese recording artist Timothy Roberts scored well, winning his first two Marlin Awards for Outstanding Dub Recording and Outstanding Reggae Vocal Performance Male, both for his impressive single “Holy Spirit”. This will serve as the second consecutive time that Guyana has won the Outstanding Reggae Vocal Performance Male category, fellow countryman Samuel Medas won this very same category during the staging of the 2022 Marlin Awards.
Several artists made history this year including St Lucian gospel songbird Nigela, who won the Outstanding Calypso Soca Vocal Performance Female category for her single “Follow”, making her only the second female gospel artist from St Lucia to win a Marlin Award. Also winning the first ever Marlin Award for her country of St Vincent & The Grenadines is female gospel recording artist Kiokaya Cruickshank, who took home the award for Outstanding Traditional Recording Female for her single “A Little More Fiya”.
Veteran gospel reggae recording artist Carlene Davis also won another Marlin Award to add to her impressive collection when she captured the Outstanding Reggae Recording of the Year award for Jamaica with her single “No Regrets”. This will be the first win in this category for Jamaica in over ten years. Gospel reggae and Soca recording artist Positive won this category consecutively during the past three Marlin Awards (2014, 2017 and 2022) for Trinidad & Tobago. Positive also added another Marlin Award to his already crowded mantle of awards with his victory in the Caribbean Pop Recording Male category for his global anthem “Company”.
Bahamian male vocalist Adrian Edgecombe won his seventh career Marlin Award along with his aunt and local cultural icon Sweet Emily for Outstanding Junkanoo Rake & Scrape Vocal Performance Duo or Group for their single “Worthy”. Also winning her third Marlin Award and his second, were Bahamian female vocalist Alia Coley and worship leader Oslien Jadorte, who won the Outstanding Afro Pop Recording Duo or Group award for their radio and video hit single “Mash Down”. Former lead vocalist for legendary Bahamian gospel group, The Gospel Impressions, Minister Tracy Knowles won his first individual Marlin Award for Outstanding Praise & Worship Recording Male for his song “One Sound” and new recording artist Brendira Braynen also won her first Marlin Award for Outstanding Jazz Recording for her single “Running Back to You”.
Bahamians dominated the Hip-Hop categories with EMAN winning his first Marlin Award for Outstanding Hip-Hop Recording Duo or Group for his local hit single “Grateful” featuring Shavonne Green and female recording artist NISH also won her first ever Marlin Award for her single “High and Mighty”. Rounding things out in the hip-hop category was the group Chosen Soldiers who won their second consecutive Marlin Award this time for Outstanding Hip-Hop Recording for their single “Purpose” featuring Najie Dunn.
There were several first-time winners including male recording artist Bj’orn Pierre from Trinidad & Tobago who won the award for Outstanding Calypso Vocal Performance Male for his single “It’s Already Done”. Also securing their first Marlin Award was Bahamian vocal ensemble Antonia N. Wilson and the Legato Vocal Ensemble who won for their single “Bahamian Wake Medley” featuring Marguerite Brennen Samuel. Representing the United Kingdom, Joshua Kesler also won his first Marlin Award for Outstanding Adapted Recording Male for his remake of the Helen Baylor classic “Oasis”. Female songwriter and worship leader Nataki Lendor won her first pair of awards, one for Outstanding Calypso Recording (Good Good) and the other for Outstanding Contemporary Vocal Performance Female (Safe Haven). K-Anthony, a contemporary recording artist from Jamaica won his first Marlin Award for Outstanding Pop Recording Male for his single “Miracles”.
During this year’s awards ceremony, several artists representing a few countries in the region also earned their second Marlin Award including NISA, a female gospel recording artist from Trinidad & Tobago who won her second consecutive Marlin Award for Outstanding Reggae Vocal Performance Female for her single “Waiting on You”, making this the first time a female artist from Trinidad has won this category back-to-back. Pastor Michael Daley, a record producer and musician from Jamaica, won the Outstanding Instrumental Recording category for a second consecutive time with his single “Rejoice All Unto the Lord” and Reggae and dancehall artist Dwayne Fyah representing Guyana also won his second consecutive Marlin Award this year for Outstanding Reggae Hip-Hop Recording for his latest offering “Set Apart”. Contemporary female recording artist Lili Forbes representing St. Maarten earned her second Marlin Award for Outstanding Inspirational Recording Female for “Come In” and Ayiesha representing Bermuda also won her second Marlin Award in the Outstanding Pop Recording Female category for her single “God Forever”.
The Latin gospel duo LA RED representing Puerto Rico won the International Caribbean Gospel Recording category for the second consecutive time, for their single “El Podersoso”.
Mounting the podium for her third successive Marlin Award ceremony was Neesha Woodz from Barbados who won her fourth overall Marlin Award this year for Outstanding Caribbean Pop Recording Female for her feel good single “Good to Me”. Jamaican recording artist Kevin Downswell scored another two Marlin Awards this year with wins for Outstanding Contemporary Vocal Performance Male (All I Want is You) and Outstanding Inspirational Recording Duo or Group for his latest hit single “Grace” featuring Lucas Musiq. Well known Jamaican female gospel recording artist Chevelle Franklyn also won two Marlin Awards this year, her first in over 15 years. Franklyn won in the categories of Outstanding Adapated Recording Female for her remake of “No Longer A Slave” and Outstanding Praise & Worship Recording Female for her international worship single “Jesus Wins”.
Nigel Lewis is no stranger to the Marlin Awards and has had several awards added to his collection over the years. He added yet another this year with his win for Outstanding Adapted Recording Duo or Group for his remake of the holiday classic “Joy to the World” featuring producer and recording artist Kelda “Timeless” Sweeting out of Freeport Grand, Bahama. Jamaican gospel dancehall artist DJ Nicholas collected yet another Marlin Award, this time for Outstanding DJ Vocal Performance for “Christ A Mi Life” and gospel reggae artist Wayne Stoddard snagged another award for Jamaica in the Outstanding Contemporary Vocal Performance Duo or Group category for the track “Dance Like David” featuring fellow Jamaican female recording artist Glacia Robinson.
One of the major highlights of the evening was the presentation of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Bahamian gospel ensemble Edison Sumner and Voices of Praise in recognition of their thirty plus years of music and ministry. The group was presented with this prestigious award by fellow artist and award winner Adrian Edgecombe for their outstanding achievement in Bahamian and Caribbean Gospel Music and for their contribution towards the development and advancement of Caribbean Gospel Music.
Trinidad & Tobago won a total of nineteen (19) Marlin Awards this year followed closely by the Bahamas who won a total of seventeen (17) awards and Jamaica who won nine (9) awards.
Several artists took center stage performing their nominated singles during the 2025 Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards including Marc Isaacs, Alia Coley & Oslien Jadorte, Nigela, K-Anthony, Aylssa Joseph, Joshua Ali, Willissa Nyobi Mackey, Sherwin Gardner, Joinae Gibson, Timothy Roberts, Edison Sumner and Voices of Praise, Neesha Woodz, Akeem Gardiner, Nigel Lewis, Colyn Kristopher, Shannette Hepburn, Davian Chase, Leandria Smith, Joshua Kesler and UK based worship recording artist Noel Robinson who gave a special guest performance.
Several industry professionals and nominees served as presenters including Rebekah Fuentes (Trinidad & Tobago), Sharon Rurak (Canada), Keziah Job (England), Curtis Jordan (Trinidad & Tobago), Kiokaya Cruickshank (St Vincent & The Grenadines), Toyin Adekale (England), Darnell “Psalms 150 DJ” Forde (Trinidad & Tobago) Ria Strachan (Bahamas) and Noel Robinson (England)
The 2025 Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards was broadcast live on the Caribbean Gospel Television Network (CGTV) in fourteen (14) countries including the Bahamas on Cable 651 as well as on the Marlin Awards social media pages. Super Club Breezes Bahamas served as the Title Sponsor and the official resort for the 2025 Marlin Awards. 101.9 Joy FM and Inspiration 107.9FM (ZNS) served as Gold Sponsors.
The Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards was launched twenty-nine years ago on Sunday March 16th, 1996, by music and media executive Kevin Harris in Nassau, Bahamas. The Marlin Awards are produced by Oracle Media Consultants, a division of Harris Media Group. For additional information contact [email protected] or at 242-826-8052. For the official list of all 2025 Marlin Awards winners visit www.marlinawards.com.
