Tonight, the MOBO Awards made its live show return and cemented its status as the UK’s biggest celebration of Black music and culture. Artists who are shaping the cultural zeitgeist and re-defining the future of the British music landscape were honoured in a star-studded ceremony that was streamed on YouTube live from Coventry, the UK’s City of Culture.
The ceremony, at Coventry Building Society Arena, was hosted by multi-platinum-selling artist and actress Leigh-Anne Pinnock and comedian and broadcaster Munya Chawawa, with special guest host Eddie Kadi, who presents BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Official UK Afrobeats Chart Show. The show featured blockbuster performances from a diverse range of talent: Ghetts, Pa Salieu, Stefflon Don and Ms Banks, Bree Runway, Potter Payper, Tems, NSG and ENNY. Legendary world heavyweight champion boxer Frank Bruno MBE was honoured with the MOBO Inspiration Award, in recognition of his indelible impact on British sport, having battled racism and mental health stigma in and outside the ring during his storied rise to the top.
Don’t miss MOBO Awards 2021: Access All Areas, a special show airing on 8 December at 10.35pmGMT on BBC One which will include exclusive backstage content and never-before-seen performances and interviews from the award ceremony presented by 1Xtra’s DJTarget. BBC Radio 1Xtra will also be covering the awards starting on Monday 6 December with DJ Target who will dedicate his weekday shows (7-9pm) to the MOBO Awards 2021. Bringing to his listeners the hottest performances and exclusive interviews with this year’s nominees and winners.
23-year old South London MC Dave, who took home Best Newcomer at the 2017 MOBO Awards, has come full circle winning the prestigious Album of The Year for his critically-lauded release “We’re All Alone In This Together”, which became his second consecutive No.1 charting album on the UK Official Charts. Dave impressively was also the most nominated artist at this year’s MOBO Awards, accumulating five nominations in total.
After racking up 11 MOBO nominations since 2014, the awe-inspiring Little Simz scooped her first-ever MOBO win tonight for Best Female Act – in association with Arts Council England, rounding off a successful year with her immaculate album “Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert”. Grime forebearer Ghetts also scored his first ever MOBO win, taking home Best Male Act after a momentous year with his contemplative body of work “Conflict of Interest”, which peaked at No.2 on the UK Albums Chart.
London rising star Central Cee took home Best Newcomer – in association with ASOS and became the inaugural winner of MOBO’s Best Drill Act – in association with TRENCH. A fitting landmark for a breakthrough year which saw him shoot to No.2 on the UK Album Charts with his debut mixtape “Wild West” and score a Top 5 charting single with ‘Obsessed with You’. Tion Wayne and Russ Millions won Song of The Year – in association with Coventry Building Society Arena for ‘Body (Remix)’ featuring ArrDee, Bugzy Malone, Buni, Darkoo, E1 (3×3), Fivio Foreign and ZT (3×3).
Nigerian superstar Wizkid bagged Best International Act and Best African Music Act – in association with Afrozons with Sheila O, hot on the heels of his monumental three-night takeover of London’s O2 Arena last week. Elsewhere BAFTA-winning British actor Micheal Ward won Best Performance in a TV Show/Film for his portrayal of Franklyn in Small Axe.
