Damion 'Junior Gong' Marley. - File

As reported inTHE STAR today, when the first Reggae Academy Awards takes place next February dancehall and reggae will have separate categories.

This is, of course, totally unlike the American Grammy Awards, to which the Reggae Academy Awards is similar, but not identical. And for some time there have been calls from some quarters for just such a separation.

Of course, with there being only one reggae category (and not one that is televised, at that) it is highly unlikely that the Grammys would ever get around to such a split. So not only staging local awards but also dividing the pie, so to speak, is a natural and commendable move.

When Black Uhuru won the first Reggae Grammy, it was a strictly roots reggae run until Shabba Ranks broke through for the deejays, then it was back to roots reggae until Beenie Man and Sean Paul had their runs. However, with wins for Burning Spear and Toots Hibbert in the mix, there have consistently been instances where deejays and singers have ended up competing for the sole award.

I do wonder, though, where Junior Gong's Grammy winner Welcome to Jamrock would have been placed at the Reggae Academy Awards. The rhythms are roots (with a little R&B and hip hop tossed in), but the delivery is unmistakably dancehall.

What this separation will also do is to ease the tension between the 'oldsters', mostly of the roots reggae variety, and the youngsters, mostly of the dancehall bent, who listen to music and have predisposed choices as to which is the better choice. With separate categories, there will be room for all to enjoy their preferences, both from the production and the consumption side of Jamaican music.