The Mobo Awards 2020
After their three year hiatus, the MOBO Awards are back this year displaying and honouring black British talent across a range of genres such as hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats and Grime. In a year that consisted of a global pandemic and racial tensions, a night of honouring the black British culture and its contribution to the wider society we live in is great to see on our television screens. The virtual show was hosted by Maya Jama and Chunkz alongside guest presenters such as Leomie Anderson, Rapman, and DJ Cuppy, and featured show-stopping performances throughout the whole show.
To kick off the night, Nottingham’s finest duo Young T & Bugsey won the award for Song of the Year for their global track ‘Don’t Rush’ featuring UK heavyweight Headie One and even saw them perform their hit single. Headie One also picked up Best Male act after releasing his debut album EDNA this year, an album that displayed how his sound had matured without losing touch with the Headie fans fell in love with. Kojey Radical delivered a powerful and moving performance of his single entitled ‘Good’, which referenced and highlighted the Black Lives Matter movement this year. Sweeping up the well-deserved awards for Best Hip-Hop act and Album of the Year was Nines, who had an amazing year by being nominated for five awards at the MOBOs and topping the UK album in the chart in September with ‘Crabs in a Bucket’.
The female artists this year came out in full force, with stunning performances by H.E.R and Tiana Major9, two of the most talented women in R&B right now. Mahalia picked up two awards, Best Female act and Best R&B/Soul act following her highly acclaimed Love and Compromise last year as well as her EP Isolation Tapes, which she released during the first lockdown. The Queen of South Shaybo performed her afro-infused ode to her Nigerian heritage ‘Dobale’ and a performance by Ms Banks gave us naughty but nice vibes as she performed her Afropop hit ‘Snack’ and her latest single ‘You Don’t Know’.
The MOBOs have always looked at black culture globally, not just artists from the UK. This year, the international acts this year included Nigerian superstar Wizkid winning best African act and striking performances by fellow Nigerian artists Tiwa Savage, Davido and Mayorkun. Best Reggae act was won by Jamaica’s very own veteran Buju Banton whose influence still transcends generations and cultures today.