African stars up for MOBO Awards

Marking its silver jubilee this year, the awards recognise and honour artistic feats across hip hop, grime, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel and African music.

The artists were nominated alongside Asake, Fireboy DML, Omah Lay, Oxlade, Pheelz and Rema in the Best African Act category, which was won by Wizkid last year. Wizkid also won the Best International Act trophy at the ceremony.

Burna Boy and Tems are also up for the Best International Act prize, while British-Nigerian rapper Little Simz earned nods in four categories, including Best Female Act, Video of the Year, Best Hip Hop Act and Album of the Year.

British-Nigerian beatmaker P2J, best known for his work with numerous Afrobeats stars, notably Wizkid, and British-Ghanaian colleague Jae5, who is widely credited with pioneering the fusion genre of Afroswing, secured nods in the Producer of the Year category. 

MOBO founder Kanya King said this year’s announcement truly shows what a bumper year it has been for the scene. “It’s a proud moment to see MOBO once again recognise and honour the luminaries and tip the stars of the future. This is what it means when we say honouring the past, inspiring the future,” King said.

Below is the complete list of nominees:

Best Male Act

• Central Cee
• Dave
• D-Block Europe
• Digga D
• Knucks
• Tion Wayne

Best Female Act

• Little Simz
• Mahalia
• Miraa May
• Ms Banks
• Pinkpantheress
• Tiana Major9

Album of the Year

• Aitch – Close To Home
• Knucks – Alpha Place
• Kojey Radical – Reason To Smile
• Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
• M Huncho – Chasing Euphoria
• Miraa May – Tales of A Miracle

Song of the Year

• Aitch Feat. Ashanti – 'Baby'
• Central Cee – 'doja'
• Dave – 'Starlight'
• Digga D & Stillbrickin – Pump 101'
• Dreya Mac, Felixthe1st & Finch Fetti – 'Own Brand (Baddie)'
• Potter Payper Feat. Tiggs Da Author – 'Gangsteritus'

Best Newcomer

• Amaria Bb
• Bru-C
• Cat Burns
• Clavish
• Cristale
• Flo
• Jbee
• Nemzzz
• Nia Archives
• Switchotr

Video of the Year

• Central Cee – 'doja'
• Headie One, Abra Cadabra & Bandokay – 'Can’t Be Us'
• Knucks – 'Alpha House/Hide & Seek'
• Kojey Radical Feat. Knucks – 'Payback'
• Little Simz Feat. Obongjayar – 'Point And Kill'
• Mahalia – 'Whatever Simon Says'

Best R&B/Soul Act

• Ella Mai
• Mahalia
• Miraa May
• Nao
• Shakka
• Tiana Major9

Best Grime Act

• Blay Vision
• D Double E
• Frisco
• Kamakaze
• Manga Saint Hilare
• Novelist

Best Hip Hop Act

• D-Block Europe
• Knucks
• Kojey Radical
• Little Simz
• Potter Payper
• Youngs Teflon

Best Drill Act

• Central Cee
• Digga D
• Headie One
• Ivorian Doll
• K-Trap
• Kwengface
• M24
• Russ Millions
• Unknown T
• V9

Best International Act

• Beyoncé
• Burna Boy
• Chris Brown
• Drake
• Jack Harlow
• Jazmine Sullivan
• Kendrick Lamar
• Skillibeng
• Summer Walker
• Tems

Best Performance in a TV Show/Film

• Damson Idris as Franklin Saint – Snowfall
• Daniel Kaluuya as Otis “Oj” Haywood Jr. – Nope
• Jasmine Jobson as Jaq – Top Boy
• Kane Robinson (Kano) as Sully – Top Boy
• Lashana Lynch as Nomi – No Time To Die
• Samuel Adewunmi as Hero – You Don’t Know Me

Best Media Personality

• Big Zuu
• Chuckie Online
• Chunkz
• Harry Pinero
• KSI
• Mo Gilligan
• Munya Chawawa
• Nella Rose
• Yung Filly
• Zeze Millz

Best Alternative Music Act

• Big Joanie
• Bob Vylan
• Kid Bookie
• Loathe
• Nova Twins
• Skunk Anansie

Best Electronic/Dance Act

• Anz
• Eliza Rose
• FKA Twigs
• Jax Jones
• Nia Archives
• Sherelle

Best African Music Act

• Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
• Asake (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
• Kabza De Small (South Africa)
• Omah Lay (Nigeria)
• Oxlade (Nigeria)
• Pheelz (Nigeria)
• Rema (Nigeria)
• Tems (Nigeria)

Best Gospel Act

• Asha Elia
• Calledout Music
• Rachel Kerr
• Reblah
• Sarah Teibo
• Still Shadey

Best Jazz Act

• Blue Lab Beats
• Doomcannon
• Ego Ella May
• Ezra Collective
• Jas Kayser
• Kokoroko

Best Caribbean Music Act

• Koffee
• Popcaan
• Sean Paul
• Shenseea
• Skillibeng
• Spice

Best Producer

• Inflo
• Jae5
• Labrinth
• M1onthebeat
• P2J
• TSB