Gospel music’s finest honoured Prince SAJ, Johnmark Wiggan score big at Sterling Gospel Music Awards

Prince SAJ and Johnmark Wiggan were among the standout winners at the 10th staging of the Sterling Gospel Music Awards (SGMA), which celebrated the best in gospel music during a special television broadcast on Television Jamaica on Sunday, October 18.

Prince SAJ walked away with two of the night’s top honours, winning Album of the Year for Fully Jesus and Male Artiste of the Year.

The double victory marked another major milestone for the gospel singer, whose music continues to resonate with audiences locally and abroad.

Johnmark Wiggan also enjoyed one of the strongest showings of the evening. His hit single Nothing Too Hard, featuring Rondell Positive and Gilead Collective, secured Collaboration of the Year and Local Hit of the Year, while Wiggan was also awarded Local Hit Producer of the Year for the chart-topping track.

Rhoda Isabella added another accolade to her career after being named Female Artiste of the Year, reinforcing her place among Jamaica’s leading gospel performers.

Jermaine Edwards was recognised for his project, Songs for the Journey, which won E.P. of the Year, while popular group Levy’s Heritage captured Group of the Year honours.

The awards also spotlighted emerging talent, with rising singer Alandré Campbell taking home the Breakout Sensation of the Year award.

Beyond Jamaica, Samuel Medas of Guyana was named Caribbean Artiste of the Year, while American Gospel powerhouse CeCe Winans secured the award for International Artiste of the Year.

The SGMA People’s Choice Awards also recognised individuals and platforms helping to grow gospel music through media, entertainment and digital engagement.

Samijo Scott received the Digital Impact Award, while DJ Rebirth was crowned Gospel DJ of the Year. Ava-Gay Blair-Black earned the title of Gospel Personality of the Year.

In broadcasting, Neison Williams’ The Gospel Beat on Gospel JA won Most Rated Radio Programme of the Year, while Michelle McIntyre’s The Michelle Marie Gospel Show secured Online Radio Programme of the Year.

Other winners included More Than This, which was named Most Rated Event of the Year; LOUD by Leonell Teape and SR Victor256, which received Video of the Year; and Pastor Oneil Pusey’s Daily Sustaining Word, which won Virtual Gospel Series of the Year.

Basillia Barnaby-Cuff, SGMA founder and director, said the awards’ transition to television forms part of a broader vision to expand the reach of the gospel music industry across the region.

“Our dream has always been to see gospel music and the people who contribute to this industry receive the recognition they deserve,” she said.

She said that, as the Sterling Gospel Music Awards enters its second decade, the organisation is focused on extending its reach beyond Jamaica and creating a wider platform for gospel artistes across the Caribbean.

“Television offers us a platform to begin building that regional presence, and we see this as the beginning of an exciting new chapter,” she said.