Afrobeats stars up for 2021 MOBO Awards

African artists who secured a nomination in the keenly contested Best African Music Act category include Nigeria’s Wizkid, Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, CKay, Davido, Rema, Tems and Tiwa Savage, as well as Ghanaian singer King Promise and UK-based band NSG Music.

Wizkid and Rema are also up for the Best International Act trophy. They will compete for the award with Jamaican singer Skillibeng, Canadian rapper Drake, American stars Doja Cat, Kanye West, Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, Polo G and Young Stoner Life.

The MOBO Awards were first presented in 1996 to celebrate 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.

At last year’s awards, Wizkid and Burna Boy won the Best African Act and Best International Act categories respectively. 

Meanwhile, rappers Ghetts and Little Simz, soul singer Cleo Sol, and singer-songwriter Arlo Parks,  lead this year’s nominations with three apiece. 

Below is the full list of nominees: 

Best Male Act

• AJ Tracey
• Central Cee
• Dave
• Ghetts
• Headie One
• Potter Payper

Best Female Act

• Arlo Parks
• Bree Runway
• Cleo Sol
• Little Simz
• Shaybo
• Tiana Major9

Album of the Year

• Collapsed in Sunbeams by Arlo Parks 
• Not Your Muse by Celeste 
• Mother by Cleo Sol 
• We’re All Alone in This Together by Dave
• Conflict of Interest by Ghetts 
• Edna by Headie One

Song of the Year

• ‘Latest Trends’ by A1 x J1 
• ‘Commitment Issues’ by Central Cee 
• ‘Clash’ by Dave ft. Stormzy
• ‘Peng Black Girls’ by Enny ft. Amia Brave
• ‘My Family’ by Pa Salieu ft. BackRoad Gee
• ‘Body (Remix)’ by Tion Wayne & Russ Millions ft. ArrDee, Bugzy Malone, Buni, Darkoo, E1, ZT & Fivio Foreign

Best Newcomer

• Arlo Parks
• ArrDee
• BackRoad Gee
• Berwyn
• Central Cee
• Enny
• Joy Crookes
• Midas the Jagaban
• PinkPantheress
• Wes Nelson

Video of the Year

• ‘Hot Hot’ by Bree Runway
• ‘Money Talks’ by Fredo ft. Dave
• ‘Woman’ by Little Simz ft. Cleo Sol
• ‘Lagga’ by M1llionz 
• ‘My Family’ by Pa Salieu ft. BackRoad Gee
• ‘Mazza’ by Slowthai ft. A$AP Rocky

Best R&B/Soul Act

• Bellah
• Cleo Sol
• Jorja Smith
• Sault
• Tiana Major9
• Wstrn

Best Grime Act

• Bugzy Malone
• Chip
• D Double E
• Frisco
• Ghetts
• Skepta

Best Hip Hop Act

• Dave
• D-Block Europe
• Fredo
• Little Simz
• Potter Payper
• Slowthai

Best Drill Act

• Central Cee
• Digga D
• Headie One
• K Trap
• Loski
• M1llionz
• Russ Millions
• SR
• Tion Wayne
• Unknown T

Best International Act

• Doja Cat
• Drake
• Kanye West
• Lil Nas X
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Polo G
• Rema
• Skillibeng
• Wizkid
• Young Stoner Life (Young Thug & Gunna)

Best Performance in a TV Show/Film

• Ashley Thomas – Them
• Damson Idris – Snowfall
• Daniel Kaluuya – Judas & the Black Messiah
• Letitia Wright – Small Axe
• Micheal Ward – Small Axe

Best Media Personality

• Charlene White
• Chunkz & Yung Filly
• Harry Pinero
• Henrie Kwushue
• Julie Adenuga
• Maya Jama
• Mo Gilligan
• Munya Chawawa
• Nella Rose
• Zeze Millz

Best Gospel Act

• CalledOut Music
• Cece Winans
• Guvna B
• Kirk Franklin
• Maverick City Music
• SO

Best African Music Act

• Ayra Starr
• Burna Boy
• Ckay
• Davido
• King Promise
• NSG
• Rema
• Tems
• Tiwa Savage
• Wizkid

Best Reggae Act

• Lila Ike
• Popcaan
• Sean Paul
• Shenseea
• Skillibeng
• Spice

Best Jazz Act

• Alfa Mist
• Blue Lab Beats
• Emma-Jean Thackray
• Jacob Collier
• Nubiyan Twist
• Sons of Kemet

Best Producer

• Gotcha
• Jae5
• Juls
• M1OnTheBeat
• P2J
• TSB