Wizkid, Burna Boy triumph at 2020 MOBO Awards

Wizkid won the Best African Act Award, beating competition from fellow Nigerians Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Davido, Fireboy DML, Rema and Adekunle Gold, as well as South Africa’s Master KG, Ivory Coast’s Afro B, Ghanaian dancehall singers Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy and London-based group NSG. This is the ‘Ojuelegba’ hitmaker’s fourth MOBO trophy overall.

The award was presented by Nigerian musician DJ Cuppy and actor Charles Venn. 

“As an African, myself, the rise in our music across the last decade has been breathtaking to experience, and 2020 has been a momentous year for artists from back home,” DJ Cuppy said. “It’s a scene that has always been so vibrant and creative, but its popularity has amplified. The floodgates have opened, and the whole world wants in on the motherland.”

Accepting the award, Wizkid said: “I just want to say a big thank you to the MOBOs, a big thank you to every African child, and every Wizkid fan out there supporting my brand and supporting my music.”

Burna Boy, who recently scored his second consecutive Grammy Award nominaton, won the Best International Act category ahead of fellow Nigerian Rema, American acts Drake, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Summer Walker, H.E.R and the late drill act Pop Smoke, and Jamaica’s Koffee, Popcaan and Shenseaa. Burna Boy expressed gratitude to the awards platform and his fans for their support over the years.

“As always, the awards will be a fun and dynamic event full of special surprises,” the MOBO organisers said ahead of Wednesday’s ceremony. “This year, a strong vein of cultural purpose and social commentary will weave through the ceremony as we articulate a vision of the world as it is, but also as we want it to be. This is a year in which so many voices have been raised higher than ever – in protest, in mourning, but also in celebration of the incredible contributions that black culture has made all around the world. MOBO continues to believe in the power of the culture to bring people together.”

The MOBO Awards were established in 1996 by Kanya King, honouring musical work across hip hop, grime, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel and African music. This year, the awards were expanded to include two new categories, namely Best Media Personality and Best Performance in a TV Show/Film.

The night saw performances from Tiwa Savage, Davido, Ms Banks and a host of others. Meanwhile, Burna Boy and Wizkid have also secured multiple awards at this year’s Headies awards in Nigeria. Burna Boy, the reigning Artist of the Year, secured six nominations while Wizkid’s nods include Best Recording of the Year and Best Song of the Year.