S Poddar
Central Cee has made history at the Mobo Awards, winning the Best Male Act award for a record third time. This win takes his overall Mobo awards to seven, tying him with Stormzy as the most awarded rapper in the event’s history.
Though he didn’t receive it in person, comedian and presenter Eddie Kadi collected the award on his behalf, saying they “share everything… except royalties.”
The Newcastle awards night was full of surprise and comeback. Bashy, who came back to the music scene after 15 years, won two top prizes—Best Album and Best Hip-Hop Act. Darkoo edged out rivals such as Raye and Jorja Smith for the Best Female Act award.
As she accepted her trophy, Darkoo had a comedic moment with the crowd, explaining that she tried using AI to help her prepare her speech. “I used ChatGPT to try to write my speech, but I didn’t know how to do it,” she confessed before giving an off-the-cuff thank you to her family. “It’s been a rollercoaster, but they believed in me for the last year, and I’ve been shutting it down.”
Darkoo wasn’t only feted for her solo success—her song ‘Favourite Girl’ with Dess Dior was also awarded Song of the Year. The British-Nigerian singer beat stiff competition, including Stormzy and Chase & Status’ UK number one hit ‘Backbone’ and Central Cee’s feature with Lil Baby, ‘Band4Band,’ which reached number three on the UK charts. Even though she didn’t crack the UK Singles Chart herself, her song’s influence couldn’t be ignored.
For Central Cee, also Cench, this win comes on top of an already illustrious career. Having already taken home Best Male Act in 2024, he released his debut album just last month after a run of eight top 10 singles. In response to his most recent win, he went to Instagram, sharing a screenshot of the awards coverage with the humble caption, “that’s nice.”
As he basked in the glory of his record-breaking feat, he lost two other nominations—Best Drill Act, which was awarded to Pozer, and Song of the Year, which Darkoo took along with her Best Female Act award.
The evening also witnessed history in the making when Ayra Starr made it as the first African female artist to claim Best International Act. She also emerged as the first woman in 16 years to be awarded the prize for Best African Music Act. Her twin win spoke volumes of the increased world attention given to African musicians.
Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel was awarded the Mobo Impact Award, a high point in his career. After being released from prison last year when his murder conviction was quashed, he has made no time at all getting back into things. Over the weekend, he was also announced as a performer at this summer’s Wireless Festival.
Reflected on his past and accepting the award, he gave a heartfelt message. “Consider this—I ended up getting locked up, spent 13 years behind bars. In the meantime, I’m diagnosed with Graves’ disease, so I’m battling to be free, I’m battling my sickness, I’m battling to keep my family intact, I’m battling to keep the fans happy. And now I’m here, I walked the red carpet at the Mobos. That taught me to have faith in three things now more than ever before: fate, change, and forgiveness.”
The evening was also filled with electrifying performances by the Nova Twins, Spice, Krept & Konan, as well as award winners Odeal, Darkoo, and Bashy.
Bashy, whose return to music after 15 years was met with great excitement, took home Best Hip-Hop Act and Album of the Year for ‘Being Poor Is Expensive.’ Expressing his gratitude, he shared his long and difficult journey in the industry. “This has been a 20-year-plus journey, it’s been hard work, tenacity, a lot of ups and downs,” he said. “I stood in my truth, stood in my community’s truth, and now I’m here.”
He paused to recognize the Windrush generation and gave an uplifting message to budding artists. “I’m just a normal bloke from the ends. I was a bus driver, I was a postman, I worked in retail. So if you’re out there and you’re working a job to pay for your passion, don’t be embarrassed about your job. This is a fantastic privilege, I’m humbled.”
The prizes also included a very poignant moment when Labour MP Dawn Butler announced a surprise accolade for Mobos founder Kanya King. She received the Paving the Way award for her efforts within the music world despite struggling on a personal level.
King, who last year announced she had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, was given a standing ovation as she appeared on stage. Gratefully, she spoke about her experience. “There was a point when I thought I wouldn’t survive, but next year is our 30th anniversary, and I very much plan to be there.”
Her perseverance and commitment to the Mobos were hailed across the board, with numerous people viewing her as an authentic trailblazer in terms of promoting Black music and culture in the UK.
Complete List of Winners:
- Best Male Act – Central Cee
- Best Female Act – Darkoo
- Best Newcomer – Odeal
- Album of the Year – Bashy, ‘Being Poor Is Expensive’
- Song of the Year – Darkoo feat. Dess Dior, ‘Favourite Girl’
- Video of the Year – Mnelia, ‘My Man’
- Best Hip-Hop Act – Bashy
- Best Grime Act – Scorcher
- Best Drill Act – Pozer
- Best R&B/Soul Act – Odeal
- Best Media Personality – 90s Baby Show
- Best African Music Act – Ayra Starr
- Best Performance in a TV Show/Film – Jacob Anderson as Louis in ‘Interview With The Vampire’
- Best Electronic/Dance Music Act – TSHA
- Best Gospel Act – Annatoria
- Best Jazz Act – Ezra Collective
- Best Producer – Juls
- Best Caribbean Music Act – Shenseea
- Best Alternative Music Act – ALT BLK ERA
- Best International Act – Ayra Starr
- MOBO Paving the Way Award – Denise Lewis MBE
- MOBO Impact Award – Vybz Kartel
The Mobo Awards remain a stage to celebrate and acknowledge Black music and culture so that the accomplishments of artists of different genres and backgrounds are accorded the necessary appreciation.
