By Uche Amunike
The 2021 Music of Black Origin, also popularly called the Mobo Awards 2021 has come and gone on a historical note as popular Nigerian musician, Wizkid became the most awarded African Act in history after winning the Best International Act and the Best African Act awards.
The event took place at the Coventry Building Society Arena, UK and also on YouTube on Sunday night.
Significantly, it will be the first Mobo Award show to be held physically since 2017, as it took a two-year break for 2018 and 2019 before the 2020 Coronavirus epidemic forced the events to remain virtual.
The MOBO award is an annual British music award presentation that honours achievements in music of black origin, including R&B, soul, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, gospel, grime and African music.
Popular Nigerian star, Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid was nominated in the best African Music Act of the Year category alongside Burna Boy, Davido, King Promise, Rema, Tems, NSG, Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage and Ckay.
In the best international Act category, he was nominated alongside Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Drake, Kanye West, Lil Nas X, Polo G, Rema, Skillibeng, and Young Stoner Life (Young Thug and Gunna.
The Mobo Awards also featured performances from Bree Runway, Pa Salieu, Ghetts, Tems and NSG as Artist and actress Leigh-Anne Pinnock and comedian cum broadcaster, Munya Chawawa hosted this year’s Mobo Awards 2021.
Below is the full list of the Mobo Awards 2021 winners:
Album of the year – Dave, We’re All Alone In This Together
Best female act – Little Simz
Best male act – Ghetts
Best newcomer – Central Cee
Song of the year – Tion Wayne & Russ Millions, Body (Remix)
Video of the year – M1llionz, Lagga
Best grime act- Skepta
Best R&B/soul act – Cleo Sol
Best hip-hop act – D. Block Europe
Best drill act – 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 – Guvna B
Best African music act – Wizkid
Best reggae act -Shenseea
Best jazz act – Sons of Kemet
Best producer – Jae5
BBC radio 1Xtra presenter of official UK Afrobeats Chart Show, Eddie Kadi graced the Mobo Awards 2021 as a special guest, while Nigeria musicians that participated were Tiwa Savage who also presented the award for Best Male Act and Tems who performed for the award show.
MOBO, otherwise known as Music of Black Origin, celebrates music by black people. The founder is Kanya king who worked really hard to make her MOBO dream a reality. With a Ghanaian father and an Irish mother, madam King started to make money for her family at the age of 17.
The British award show which started in 1996 has hosted a myriad of artists including Beyonce, Rihanna, Sade Adu, Lionel Richie, among others.
