MOBO Awards has announced nomination for the 26th edition of which Nigerian artists have dominated with 70% of Best African Act category.
The MOBO Awards announced the nominees across 20 categories for its 26th edition Thursday December 14.
The UK’s biggest and most prestigious celebration of black music and culture will be taking place in Sheffield for the first time ever next year, at the Utilita Arena Sheffield on 7 February 2024.
It has revealed that it will introduce “MOBO Impact and MOBO Pioneer Award. To that end, for this edition the special honours included in the broadcast will sit in place of a select few category winners, the latter will be part of a special announcement pre-ceremony on 7 February.”
In the Best African Act category, some of the famous artists nominated include: Nigeria’s Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, Rema, Wizkid and others.
MOBO did recognise some of the newer acts who have been thriving in the past year – from South African artist Tyla whose viral hit “Water” became her first Top 40 single and her first-ever Number 1 on the UK’s Official Afrobeats Chart.
Record-breaking Nigerian rapper and singer Rema who is also tipped, as well as Benin-born Nigerian singer/songwriter Ayra Starr who headlined her debut world tour this year.
BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT
ADEKUNLE GOLD (NIGERIA)
ASAKE (NIGERIA)
AYRA STARR (NIGERIA)
BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)
DAVIDO (NIGERIA)
LIBIANCA (CAMEROON)
REMA (NIGERIA)
TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA)
UNCLE WAFFLES (ESWATINI)
WIZKID (NIGERIA)
See Full list below:
26TH MOBO AWARDS NOMINEES
BEST MALE ACT
CENTRAL CEE
DAVE
D-BLOCK EUROPE
J HUS
NINES
STORMZY
BEST FEMALE ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH SHEA MOISTURE
FLO
JORJA SMITH
LITTLE SIMZ
MAHALIA
PINKPANTHERESS
RAYE
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
EZRA COLLECTIVE – WHERE I’M MEANT TO BE
J HUS – BEAUTIFUL AND BRUTAL YARD
LITTLE SIMZ – NO THANK YOU
POTTER PAYPER – REAL BACK IN STYLE
RAYE – MY 21ST CENTURY BLUES
STORMZY – THIS IS WHAT I MEAN
SONG OF THE YEAR SUPPORTED BY BBC RADIO 1XTRA
CENTRAL CEE & DAVE – ‘SPRINTER’
J HUS FEAT. DRAKE – ‘WHO TOLD YOU’
JORJA SMITH – ‘LITTLE THINGS’
PINKPANTHERESS & ICE SPICE – ‘BOYS A LIAR PT.2’
RAYE & 070 SHAKE – ‘ESCAPISM’
STORMZY – ‘HIDE & SEEK’
BEST NEWCOMER
AMA LOU
ANTSLIVE
DEBBIE
JAYO
NIPPA
NO GUIDNCE
RIMZEE
STRANDZ
TAMERA
TUNDE
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
ANTSLIVE – ‘NUMBER ONE CANDIDATE’ (DIRECTED BY TOM EMMERSON)
ENNY – ‘NO MORE NAIJA MEN’ (DIRECTED BY OTIS DOMINIQUE)
JORDS – ‘DIRT IN THE DIAMOND EP1: MOBAY FEAT. TAY IWAR / STAY CLOSE FEAT. KRANIUM’(DIRECTED BY RENEE MARIA OSUBU)
LITTLE SIMZ – ‘GORILLA’ (DIRECTED BY DAVE MEYERS)
STORMZY – ‘MEL MADE ME DO IT‘ (DIRECTED BY KLVDR)
TION WAYNE – ‘HEALING’ (DIRECTED BY WOWA)
BEST R&B/SOUL ACT
BELLAH
JAZ KARIS
MAHALIA
RAGZ ORIGINALE
SAMPHA
SAULT
BEST HIP HOP ACT
AVELINO
CLAVISH
DIGGA D
ENNY
FREDO
GIGGS
LITTLE SIMZ
LOYLE CARNER
NINES
POTTER PAYPER
BEST GRIME ACT
BUGZY MALONE
DUPPY
FLOWDAN
MANGA SAINT HILARE
NOVELIST
P MONEY
BEST DRILL ACT SUPPORTED BY TRENCH
CENTRAL CEE
HEADIE ONE
K-TRAP
KWENGFACE
M24
RUSS MILLIONS
TEEZANDOS
UNKNOWN T
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT (US)
DOJA CAT
DRAKE & 21 SAVAGE
TRAVIS SCOTT
ICE SPICE
LATTO
LIL UZI VERT
NICKI MINAJ
SEXYY RED
SZA
VICTORIA MONET
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM
ADJANI SALMON AS KWABENA – DREAMING WHILST BLACK
DAMSON IDRIS AS FRANKLIN SAINT – SNOWFALL
DÉJA J. BOWENS AS VITA – CHAMPION
IDRIS ELBA AS SAM – HIJACK
INDIA AMARTEIFIO AS QUEEN CHARLOTTE – QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY
JOHN BOYEGA AS FONTAINE – THEY CLONED TYRONE
LASHANA LYNCH AS IZOGIE – THE WOMAN KING
LETITIA WRIGHT AS SHURI – BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
MALCOLM KAMULETE AS BOSCO – CHAMPION
VIVIAN OPARAH AS YAS – RYE LANE
BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY SUPPORTED BY BET UK
ALISON HAMMOND
AMELIA DIMOLDENBERG
HENRIE KWUSHUE
MADAME JOYCE
MAYA JAMA
PRESSED PODCAST
REMI BURGZ
SHXTSNGIGS
SPECS GONZALEZ
ZEZE MILLZ
BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH LOCO MUSIC
ADEKUNLE GOLD (NIGERIA)
ASAKE (NIGERIA)
AYRA STARR (NIGERIA)
BURNA BOY (NIGERIA)
DAVIDO (NIGERIA)
LIBIANCA (CAMEROON)
REMA (NIGERIA)
TYLA (SOUTH AFRICA)
UNCLE WAFFLES (ESWATINI)
WIZKID (NIGERIA)
BEST CARIBBEAN MUSIC ACT
BYRON MESSIA
DESTRA
KABAKA PYRAMID
POPCAAN
SHENSEEA
VALIANT
BEST JAZZ ACT SUPPORTED BY JAZZ FM
BLUE LAB BEATS (UK)
CKTRL (UK)
EZRA COLLECTIVE (UK)
MASEGO (US)
REUBEN JAMES (UK)
YAZMIN LACEY (UK)
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ACT IN ASSOCIATION WITH MARSHALL
ALT BLK ERA
ARLO PARKS
DEIJUVHS
KID BOOKIE
SKINDRED
YOUNG FATHERS
BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ACT SUPPORTED BY BEMA & MIXMAG
ALUNA
NIA ARCHIVES
PINKPANTHERESS
SALUTE
SHYGIRL
TSHA
BEST PRODUCER SUPPORTED BY COMPLEX UK
INFLO
KYLE EVANS
M1ONTHEBEAT
P2J
STEEL BANGLEZ
TSB
BEST GOSPEL ACT SUPPORTED BY PREMIER GOSPEL
ANNATORIA (UK)
CALLEDOUT MUSIC (UK)
GUVNA B (UK)
LIMOBLAZE (NIGERIA)
TOFUNMI ADORNA (UK)
TRIPLE O (UK)
