The MOBO Awards – which celebrates Black music and culture – have announced their 2021 winners. This year’s victors included Cleo Sol, who picked up best ‘R&B/Soul Act’, and the Shabaka Hutchings-led Sons of Kemet won ‘Best Jazz Act’.
The inspiration prize went to former heavyweight champion boxer Frank Bruno, a nod to his work in promoting the understanding of mental health issues, battling racism and his impact on the posting world.
Elsewhere, 23-year old South London MC Dave, who took home ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2017 MOBO Awards, returned to win 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’, rounding off a successful year with her immaculate album Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert.
Since 1996, the MOBO Organization has discovered and supported talent in music, film and TV. MOBO operates 365 days a year to create events, content, partnerships and opportunities for young people in the entertainment industries and beyond.
For 25 years, the MOBO Awards has remained a significant cultural event in the British music industry, celebrating excellence in Black music. Its enduring legacy as the premiere outlet for recognizing and honoring the artistic achievement of exceptional British and international talent in Hip-Hop, Grime, R&B and Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Gospel and African music has been unparalleled.
The MOBO Awards 2021 winners were as follows:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR – DAVE “WE’RE ALL ALONE IN THIS TOGETHER”
BEST FEMALE ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND – LITTLE SIMZ
BEST MALE ACT – GHETTS
BEST NEWCOMER IN ASSOCIATION WITH ASOS – CENTRAL CEE
SONG OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH COVENTRY BUILDING SOCIETY ARENA -TION WAYNE & RUSS MILLIONS FEAT. ARRDEE, BUGZY MALONE, BUNI, DARKOO, E1 (3X3), FIVIO FOREIGN & ZT (3X3) – ‘BODY (REMIX)’
VIDEO OF THE YEAR – M1LLIONZ – “LAGGA” (DIRECTED BY TEEEEZY C)
BEST GRIME ACT – SKEPTA
BEST R&B/SOUL ACT – CLEO SOL
BEST HIP HOP ACT – D. BLOCK EUROPE
BEST DRILL ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH TRENCH – CENTRAL CEE
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT – WIZKID
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM – MICHEAL WARD AS FRANKLYN IN ‘SMALL AXE’
BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY – CHUNKZ & YUNG FILLY
BEST GOSPEL ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH PREMIER GOSPEL – GUVNA B
BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH AFROZONS WITH SHEILA O – WIZKID
BEST REGGAE ACT – SHENSEEA
BEST JAZZ ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC – SONS OF KEMET
BEST PRODUCER IN ASSOCIATION WITH COMPLEX UK – JAE5