In Celebration of The MOBO Awards

Since its inception, the award show has celebrated and paid tribute to some of the biggest artists on the planet—from Destiny’s Child and Jay-Z to 50 Cent and Tina Turner.

Black music and culture in all its forms has always been at the centre of the show’s ethos and values and that has never swayed or wavered. 

Michael Jackson and Bob Marley are just two legendary names that have been posthumously honoured with awards, while, in 2005, the ‘Best African Act’ category was introduced. 

But our homegrown talent has always been championed just as much with acts such as N-Dubz, Shola Ama and Craig David being a few of the acts who scooped up awards in the earlier years. 

An iconic MOBO moment featured renowned South London crew So Solid Crew open the show and went on to win three awards in 2001, including one for ‘Best Newcomer’.

In more recent years, the MOBOs have been at the forefront of pushing genres such as grime and drill into the mainstream consciousness, often to much criticism from the wider media landscape. 

However, instead of playing it safe, the MOBOs fully embrace the culture and have helped elevate the careers of many artists, taking them from the underground and giving them the platform to take their artistry to new heights.

The ceremony has adapted and evolved over the years—now streaming on YouTube, as well as TV, and including categories such as ‘Best Media Personality’ to further incorporate its overriding message of inclusion and promotion of culture.

It is almost like a rite of passage for homegrown acts before they cross over into the mainstream circuit, as well as a staple that has consistently maintained its integrity and authenticity in the face of criticism and adversity. 

The late, great Jamal Edwards once said, "The goal isn’t to live forever. It's to create something that will," and with The MOBO Awards, Kanya King has done exactly that.