Jamaican Olympian Asafa Powell became the first recipient of the Bleu & Bougie Superstar Award at Devon House in Kingston, Jamaica, when he was presented on March 17 with the award by the New York-based Elite Weekend promoters.

“I feel very honored to get this award,” said Powell after receiving the award.

The day before, he had attended an awards ceremony in Antigua and Barbuda.

“The love I receive from the Diaspora in New York over the years is well felt throughout my career,” Powell said. “The appreciation from the Diaspora I believe is stronger than the Jamaicans living locally.

“I feel blessed receiving this honor, because it shows that I’ve done something legendary to be proud of,” he added.

The “Sub 10 King” has set the 100-meter world record twice, between June 2005 and May 2008 with times of 9.77 and 9.74 seconds.

Powell joins an elite list of past Bleu & Bougie honorees including Bounty Killa, international dancehall DJ; Nadine Sutherland, international reggae singer; Cristy Barber, GRAMMY-nominated music producer and business executive; and actor Nick Creagan, whose credits include David Makes Man (Oprah Winfrey network), Law and Order: Organized Crime (NBC TV); and Joker in the TV series Batwoman.

New York’s Elite Weekend executive Sephron Mair told Caribbean Life on Monday that the inaugural Elite Weekend at Devon House was an overwhelming success.

“Everyone had a grand time,” he said. “It was hard work and a lot of sleepless nights to pull off what we did here in Jamaica. It is a great feeling to know we far exceeded all expectations.”

Event co-producer Gary Blake said that scheduling the collaborative event two days before the ISSA Boys & Girls Athletics Championships (Champs) was an “excellent decision.”

“Champs is a huge magnet for Jamaican sports enthusiasts living in the Diaspora,” he said. “Our marketing campaign targeted them, and it paid off in a big way.

Patrons dancing at the Elite Weekend, All White party at Devon House, Jamaica. Photo by Ajamu Photo/Marlon Ajamu Myrie

“We must thank the hundreds of ‘elite weekenders’ who came in from the tri-state area, Atlanta, Florida, Toronto and even Houston, Texas, and partied with us in Jamaica,” he added.

Blake said that next year’s Elite Weekend will return to Kingston at a soon-to-be announced venue on March 15 and 16, 2025.

Singer Richie Stepenson (c) strikes a pose with event co-producers Sephron Mair (L) and Jerry McDonald. Photo by Ajamu Photo/Marlon Ajamu Myrie

Singer Richie Stephens made an impromptu appearance at the Devon House shindig, delivering Luther Vandross’ “I’d Rather” and his perennial hit “Weakness for Sweetnes” that earned rapturous applause, Mair and Blake said.

They also said New York’s DJ Roy, who played on Sunday’s All White Soiree en Blanc was one of the standout selectors.

“He proved his mettle engaging the capacity crowd with a steady diet of vintage hit songs that had patrons begging for more,” Mair and Blake said.

They said Bishop Escobar, who played at Saturday’s Bleu & Bougie, also “represented well”;  while Captain Colin Hinds, Icopsycho, Richie Ras, Rich Rocc and MV Stone “held their own.”