"An empowering show with a purpose that represents opportunity over inequality, that represents pride for an audience that often feels marginalised, that represents achievement against all odds."
That's how the returning MOBO awards were described by founder and Brent businesswoman Kanya King on Wednesday (December 9).
A virtual ceremony saw Church Road rapper Nines taking home the Album of The Year award for Crabs In A Bucket, seeing off competition from Stormzy, J Hus, Lianne La Havas and Mahalia.
In the year he scored his first UK number one album, Nines was also crowned Best Hip Hop Act, after first being nominated for this category at the MOBO Awards three years ago.
The ceremony was hosted by Maya Jama and Chunkz, and live-streamed on YouTube and later broadcast on BBC One at 10.45pm, with a highlights special on BBC iPlayer.
Mahalia scooped up Best Female Act (in association with ISAWITFIRST) and Best R&B/Soul Act.
The Leicestershire-born rising star released her debut album, Love and Compromise, in 2019 which includes Shimmer (featuring Burna Boy) and What You Did (featuring Ella Mai).
Tottenham's "King of Drill" Headie One won Best Male Act and performed a medley of Bumpy Ride, with M Huncho, and Teach Me, taken from his UK number one debut album Edna. He also teamed up with Young T & Bugsey on the show for a performance of their smash Don’t Rush.
Mancunion rapper Aitch won Best Newcomer (in association with Arts Council England) and Nottingham duo Young T & Bugsey took home Song of The Year for Don’t Rush’ (featuring Headie One).
Nigerian stars made their mark at the awards with Burna Boy winning Best International Act and Wizkid scoring Best African Act (in association with Afrozons). The ceremony also featured performances from Afrobeats royalty Davido and Tiwa Savage.
Acclaimed British filmmaker Sir Steve McQueen CBE, the man behind 12 Years A Slave and Small Axe, was honoured with MOBO’s Inspiration Award.
Kanya King, MOBO founder, said: “I feel very proud about this year’s show which will go down in history because of its unique commentary and set of circumstances. We will archive it for future generations to watch and learn about the times we are currently in.
"I want to thank the BBC and YouTube for working together, all for the greater good. This wasn’t just an Awards show, this is an empowering show with a purpose that represents opportunity over inequality, that represents pride for an audience that often feels marginalised, that represents achievement against all odds.
"There will be new artists watching the show and because of it, and their lives and those of their families may be forever changed. Roll on our 25th anniversary next year – let’s get ready to MOBOLISE!”
The ceremony featured performances by Kojey Radical, Ms Banks, Young T & Bugsey, Shaybo, Stylo G, H.E.R. and Tiana Major9.
2020 MOBO AWARDS WINNERS
BEST MALE ACT
HEADIE ONE
BEST FEMALE ACT
(IN ASSOCIATION WITH ISAWITFIRST)
MAHALIA
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
NINES – ‘CRABS IN A BUCKET’
SONG OF THE YEAR [PUBLIC VOTED]
YOUNG T & BUGSEY FEAT. HEADIE ONE – ‘DON’T RUSH’
BEST NEWCOMER
(IN ASSOCIATION WITH ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND)
[PUBLIC VOTED]
AITCH
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
NSG – ‘LUPITA’ (DIRECTED BY KEVIN HUDSON)
BEST R&B/SOUL ACT
MAHALIA
BEST HIP HOP ACT
NINES
BEST GRIME ACT [PUBLIC VOTED]
JME
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT [PUBLIC VOTED]
BURNA BOY
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM [PUBLIC VOTED]
MICHEAL WARD AS MARCO – ‘BLUE STORY’
BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY [PUBLIC VOTED]
CHUNKZ
BEST ALBUM (2017 – 2019)
This is a one-off additional category just for this year’s MOBO Awards to highlight the best albums released from 1st September 2017 – 31st August 2019.
ELLA MAI – ‘ELLA MAI’
BEST AFRICAN ACT
(IN ASSOCIATION WITH AFROZONS)
[PUBLIC VOTED]
WIZKID
BEST REGGAE ACT
BUJU BANTON
BEST GOSPEL ACT
(IN ASSOCIATION WITH PREMIER GOSPEL)
CALLEDOUT MUSIC
BEST JAZZ ACT
(IN ASSOCIATION WITH BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC)
EGO ELLA MAY
BEST PRODUCER
JAE 5
INSPIRATION AWARD
STEVE MCQUEEN
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