Buju Banton Finally Gets His “Beyond the Dawn” Grammy Award

Buju Banton finally united with his 2011 Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album last month.

The Reggae superstar won the prestigious award for his tenth studio album, “Beyond the Dawn” at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards held on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, in the United States.

During the time of the ceremony, Buju Banton was gearing up for his trial on drug trafficking charges, which was set to begin the following morning at the Sam M Gibbons US Court in Tampa, Florida. He would subsequently be tried, found guilty and sentenced .

Banton returned to Jamaica in December of last year after serving the 10-year sentence, but it was only a week ago that he was able to finally touch the Golden Gramophone he won on that February night eight years ago.

The task of guarding the award was put into the capable hands of his long-time business partner and confidante, Tracii McGregor. She took to social media immediately after delivering his trophy.

“February marks 8 years since the DJ won his first #GRAMMY award for #BeforeTheDawn… I have held it in safekeeping all this time… opening the box on my darkest days… a simple reminder of all we accomplished… Finally, it is in the hands of its rightful owner. ?? @bujuofficial. #bujubanton #gargamelmusic,” she wrote under a photo of Banton and his award.

Beyond the Dawn was produced by Buju Banton’s own Gargamel Music label and released in September 2010. It was the singjay’s fifth Grammy nomination. His previous nominations were for Inna Heights (1999), Friends for Life (2004), Too Bad (2007) and 2010’s Rasta Got Soul.