The 26th MOBO Awards celebrated Black musical talent at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, UK, on 7 February. Central Cee won Best Male for the second year and Best Song for ‘Sprinter’, a collaboration with Dave, which made UK chart history.
Raye won Best Female, surpassing PinkPantheress and Mahalia. Her victory follows a successful year with her hit ‘Escapism’ and debut album ‘My 21st Century Blues’.
Potter Payper’s debut album “Real Back in Style” won Album of the Year, despite tough competition from Stormzy, Little Simz, and J Hus.
In the rap categories, Little Simz won Best Hip-Hop Act, K-Trap retained Best Drill Act, and Tunde won Best Newcomer.
Inflo won Best Producer, while Sault won Best R&B/Soul Act. Ezra Collective won Best Jazz Act, and Drake and 21 Savage jointly won Best International Act.
Sugababes received the Mobo Impact Award, and Soul II Soul received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Asake won Best African Act, and Limoblaze won Best Gospel Act, among strong competition.
The ceremony was livestreamed on YouTube, with a broadcast on BBC One scheduled for 9 February at 11.30pm.
- Best male act: Central Cee
- Best female act: Raye
- Album of the year: Potter Payper – Real Back In Style
- Song of the year: Central Cee & Dave – Sprinter
- Best newcomer: Tunde
- Video of the year: Stormzy – Mel Made Me Do It
- Best RnB/ soul act: Sault
- Best hip-hop act: Little Simz
- Best grime act: Bugzy Malone
- Best drill act: K-Trap
- Best international act: Drake & 21 Savage
- Best performance in a TV show/ film: Damson Idris as Franklin Saint – Snowfall
- Best media personality: ShxtsNGigs
- Best African music act: Asake
- Best Caribbean music act: Valiant
- Best jazz act: Ezra Collective
- Best alternative music act: Skindred
- Best electronic/ dance act: Shygirl
- Best producer: Inflo
- Best gospel act: Limoblaze
- Lifetime achievement award: Soul II Soul
- Impact award: Sugababes
- Paving the way award: Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill
- Pioneer award: Ghetts