Black Music Talent Honoured At Mobos

Black Music Talent Honoured At Mobos
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The curtain has come down on the 21st Mobo (music of black origin) Awards in Glasgow.

Hosted by Melvin Odoom and his Kiss Breakfast Show co-host Rickie Haywood Williams, who kicked off the televised show dressed in full Scottish attire, the ceremony took place in the SSE Hydro in what was the event's fourth time in the city.

Thousands of music fans and artists attended the ceremony which celebrates and honours stars of any ethnicity who create and perform black music.

Earlier on Friday Tinie Tempah announced that he was pulling out of his performance at the awards because of "music industry politics".

The British rapper posted a handwritten note on Instagram to say his withdrawal from the show was beyond his control.

Professor Green was then announced as a late addition to the line-up.

Other performers at this year's event included Craig David, Laura Mvula, Clean Bandit and Chase & Status.

Going into the night grime music star Kano and soul singer Laura Mvula lead the nominations with four nods each.

Kano won best album for Made In The Manor – seeing off fierce competition in the category from the likes of Skepta who won the Mercury Prize earlier this year.

Garage superstar Craig David, who was first recognised at the Mobos when he clinched the best newcomer trophy in 2000, rounded off his triumphant return to music by winning best male act.

Best female act was won by Lady Leshurr who said she was "ecstatic".

She added: "I collected it and my queen speech went out the window – I didn't know what to actually say. I was speechless, I was queen speechless.

"It has been a long time coming. I've been doing this for over a decade and been trying different things.

"I went back to the drawing board and thought I need to bring fun back into the industry and I think that's what I've been doing and just to know that people still care about me and think about me all over the world – a lot of people support me and I'm just appreciative of that."

Proceedings experienced a slight hiccup when the best song award was given to Wstrn, but was then re-called and awarded to Abra Cadabra – it wasn't all bad news for Wstrn with a win in the best newcomer category.

This year's Paving The Way award was given to Olympic Champion boxer Nicola Adams.

The award is designed to celebrate individuals in any field "punching above their weight" and who are creating a path for others to follow.

Adams said: "It means absolutely everything to me. It's nice to know that people appreciate the hard work I put into the sport and the effort to create a path so that girls behind me don't have to struggle.

"There's a structure now and a set up so that they know they can be an Olympic champion just like me.

"My mum had to pretty much fund everything – training, going to and from the gym, going away overseas and just trying to get me experience to build my profile so I guess it's my mum that really deserves this and not me.

"I've had a really good year with the gold in Rio and now I'm receiving a lovely award tonight too."

Rapper Drake won the best international gong at the event, which was broadcast live on ITV from 8pm.

List of award winners

Best Male Act - Craig David

Best Female Act - Lady Leshurr

Best Newcomer - WSTRN

Best Album - Kano: Made In The Manor

Best Hip Hop Act - Section Boyz

Best Song - Abra Cadabra ft Krept & Konan: Robbery (remix)

Best Video - Nadia Rose SKWOD (Directed by Reece Proctol)

Best R&B/Soul - Shakka

Best Grime Act (In Association with BBC Radio 1Xtra) - Chip

Best International Act - Drake

Best Jazz Act - Esperanza Spalding

Best Gospel Act - Guvna B

Best Reggae Act - Popcaan

Best African Act - Wiz Kid

Paving The Way - Nicola Adams MBE and Ms Dynamite