Multi-award-winning gospel artiste Neesha Woodz tops the 2025 Barbados Flame Gospel Awards nominations with a whopping 13, including Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song Writer of the Year.
The nominations were issued in a press release by founder and organiser Mike Cummins, who stated that they cover the period November 2023 to November 2024. He noted that Woodz’ nominations stemmed from the release of her 2024 album, Grace.
“Woodz, who staged one of the most successful concerts to be held in Barbados in May, earned nominations in the categories: Female Vocalist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Praise and Worship Song of the Year, Best Bible (Scripture)-based Song of the Year, Best Arranged Song, Calypso of the Year, Reggae Song of the Year and Album of the Year.
“Among those being nominated for the first time are Nicole Jemmott-Gibbs from the Power in the Blood Assembly with her song I Am She. [There’s also] Nadine Tull, whose song His Love, is receiving airplay internationally; worship leader Brian Lashley and Naba Band, a new outfit on the scene, which earned a nomination following the release of their live album Sounds of the Glorious Church,” he said.
Woodz garnered two nominations in the categories of Best Scripture Based Song of the Year with her songs Mountain Mover and Prayer Answering God featuring Ebuka; Song of the Year for Grace and Mountain Mover; Calypso of the Year with Heaven,which features Blessed Messenger and Revival, and Best Music Video of the Year for A.T.M (All That Matters) and Revival.
Female artistes dominated the nominations, securing many of the categories except for the obvious Male Vocalist of the Year in which Hoszia Hinds, Brian Lashley and Njeri were chosen. Hinds is the only male to be nominated in four categories. Apart from the male vocalist, he’s also in contention for Songwriter of the Year, Praise and Worship Song of the Year with Got A Reason, and Song of the Year for Story of My Life.
Also picking up four nominations were Sammijane, Nadine Tull, Keisha Griffith and Nicole Jemmott-Gibbs, while Sherridean Skeete and Nell Clarke have three each. Mya Daniel has two along with Telsa Renee and Dionne Renee.
Naba Band, a new group, has picked up four nominations. These are in the categories of Album of the Year for their live album, New Artiste, Praise and Worship Song of the Year and Best Scripture Based Song with three of their singers – Nina Thomas, Dionne Renee and Laurel Peterson – being selected for their songs Armed & Dangerous, God Who Answers by Fire and Warfare Fire respectively.
In the release, Cummins stated the presentation of the awards is slated to take place on May 4, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. (DS)
