In the UK, Wizkid won the award for Best International Act and Best African Act at the MOBO Awards 2021, aka the Music of Black Origin Awards, held at Coventry Building Society Arena on 5 December.
KAMPALA | LIFESTYLE UGANDA (http://lifestyleuganda.com/) — This year’s Music of Black Origin Awards alias MOBO awards took place at Coventry Building Society Arena in the UK on 5 December, with Wizkid winning both the Best International Act and Best African Act awards.
- MOBO Awards 2021 honours Wizkid, wins ‘Best International Act’ and ‘Best African Act’.
- Wizkid was named ‘Artist of the Year’ for Africa at the 2021 Apple Music Awards on Dec 2.
- He also took home a ‘Best African Act’ award at the 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards.
- Wizkid, Angélique Kidjo nominated for ‘Best Global Music Album’ at Grammy Awards 2022.
Since 1996, the MOBO Awards have honored artists in hip hop, grime, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel, and African music. This year, they have added two new categories: Best Media Personality and Best Performance in a TV Show/Film.
The award marks Wizkid’s fourth MOBO Award victory, after winning the category in 2011, 2016 and 2020.
Wizkid won the ‘Best African Act’ award on Sunday, beating out fellow Nigerians Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, CKay, Davido, Rema, Tems and Tiwa Savage, as well as Ghanaian singer King Promise and UK-based Afro-swing collective NSG Music.
Previously, Wizkid won the ‘Best African Act’ Award at the MTV Europe Music Awards on 14 November, and he won the ‘Artist of the Year’ for Africa at the 2021 Apple Music Awards on December 2.
Among the people who presided over the announcement of Wizkid’s MOBO Best African Act victory were reality TV star Kaz Kamwi and broadcaster DJ Abrantee, who is credited with coining the term Afrobeats, the genre that Wizkid is best known for.
In his acceptance speech on Wizkid’s behalf, Kamwi said, “African music is rich and full of character, like the continent where it comes from.”
“African music, like the continent it originated from, is rich and full of character,” said Kamwi in accepting the award on Wizkid’s behalf.
With the ‘Best International Act’ award, Wizkid beat Rema, Skillibeng, Drake, Doja Cat, Kanye West, Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, Polo G and Young Stoner Life.
Among others, British-Nigerian rapper Dave won the coveted Album of the Year Award for his sophomore release We’re All Alone in This Together, while Little Simz won the Best Female Act Award.
Wizkid, an Afrobeats star born in Lagos, is perhaps the most globally renowned female artist of his generation.
In the 2000s, he built a profile with co-writing credits and feature spots, but to establish himself fully, he released two albums aptly named Superstar (2011) and Ayo (2014).
The singer has regularly worked with superstars like Drake (“One Dance”; “Come Closer”), but his footprint grew even more with mega-singles like the track “BROWN SKIN GIRL” from The Lion King: The Gift.
At the 2022 Grammys, which take place on 31 January, Wizkid will compete for two awards, the ‘Best Global Music Album’ Award and the newly instituted Best Global Music Performance Award.
To view the complete list of MOBO winners for 2021, click here.
This article is supported by Makeup Store Uganda, a Cosmetics Store in Kampala with original makeup products from Europe. They are located at Equatorial shopping mall, level 2 shop no 272, and you may contact them via WhatsApp at +256793851784 or by phone at +256789436581.
