MOBO Awards: UK’s biggest celebration of black music to be held in the Midlands for the first time

The UK’s biggest celebration of black music and culture, the MOBO Awards, will be held in Coventry this year.

The MOBO Awards will return as a live event for the first time since 2017 and will take place at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Sunday, December 5.

Since it began in 1996, the MOBO Awards has become one of Europe's biggest music award ceremonies.

It celebrates Hip Hop, Grime, RnB, Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Gospel, and African music talent.

And for the first time in its history - it's coming to the Midlands.

The organisers of the event have said following last year’s livestream show, the awards ceremony is returning to "its rightful live show format" and coming to “the incredible city of Coventry”.

Kanya King, the founder of the MOBOs, says "Coventry is the perfect place to host the MOBO awards."

"It's got a fantastic status, prestigious of City of Culture, its a modern multi-cultural city, there's a young population and a population that loves good music."

She continued: "That's why we're proud to bring the MOBO awards here on the stage at the CBS arena on the 5th of December, so remember remember the 5th of December, it's going to be a date not to be missed"

Some examples of artists who come from the Midlands include Lady Leshurr, Jay1, Pauline Black, and sound of 2021 winner Pa Salieu.

An upcoming rapper who lives in Coventry has said it'll bring motivation to local artists.

He told ITV Central" "it's a chance for people to network with people that otherwise wouldn't be accessible (here) and the motivation to say, next time it's in Coventry - I want to be up for an award."

Over the past two decades, the MOBO Awards stage has seen performances from huge British stars like Sade, Amy Winehouse, Stormzy, FKA Twigs, Tinie Tempah, Emeli Sandé, Labrinth, Craig David, Ms Dynamite, Laura Mvula and Sugababes.

It has also showcased rising stars like Krept & Konan, Headie One, Stefflon Don, Ray BLK, Ms. Banks, Kojey Radical, and Young T & Bugsey to name just a few.

Kanya King, founder and CEO of MOBO Group, said: "In 2020 we proudly did the unthinkable by producing an awards show amid a global pandemic, which was no easy feat."

"This year, we are delighted to be returning to a live format in the incredible city of Coventry."