MOBO Awards - 2021 winners announced
The winners of the MOBO Awards 2021 have been revealed
Last updated 6th Dec 2021
The MOBO Awards – which celebrates Black music and culture - have announced their 2021 winners.
The 2021 MOBO winners included Cleo Sol,** who picked up best 'R&B/Soul Act', and the Shabaka Hutchings-led Sons of Kemet** won 'Best Jazz Act'.
The inspiration prize went to former heavyweight champion boxer Frank Bruno, a nod to his work in promoting the understanding of mental health issues, battling racism and his impact on the posting world.
Elsewhere, 23-year old South London MC Dave, who took home 'Best Newcomer' at the 2017 MOBO Awards, returned to win the prestigious 'Album of The Year' for his critically-lauded release We’re All Alone In This Together, which became his second consecutive No.1 charting album on the UK Official Charts. Dave impressively was also the most nominated artist at this year’s MOBO Awards, accumulating five nominations in total.
After racking up 11 MOBO nominations since 2014, the awe-inspiring Little Simz scooped her first-ever MOBO win tonight for 'Best Female Act', rounding off a successful year with her immaculate album Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert.
MOBO Awards 2021 winners:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
DAVE “WE’RE ALL ALONE IN THIS TOGETHER”
BEST FEMALE ACT – IN ASSOCIATION WITH ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
LITTLE SIMZ
BEST MALE ACT
GHETTS
BEST NEWCOMER – IN ASSOCIATION WITH ASOS *
CENTRAL CEE
SONG OF THE YEAR – IN ASSOCIATION WITH COVENTRY BUILDING SOCIETY ARENA *
TION WAYNE & RUSS MILLIONS FEAT. ARRDEE, BUGZY MALONE, BUNI, DARKOO, E1 (3X3), FIVIO FOREIGN & ZT (3X3) – ‘BODY (REMIX)’
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
M1LLIONZ – ‘LAGGA’ (DIRECTED BY TEEEEZY C)
BEST GRIME ACT *
SKEPTA
BEST R&B/SOUL ACT
CLEO SOL
BEST HIP HOP ACT *
D. BLOCK EUROPE
BEST DRILL ACT – IN ASSOCIATION WITH TRENCH *
CENTRAL CEE
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT *
WIZKID
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A TV SHOW/FILM *
MICHEAL WARD AS FRANKLYN IN ‘SMALL AXE’
BEST MEDIA PERSONALITY *
CHUNKZ & YUNG FILLY
BEST GOSPEL ACT – IN ASSOCIATION WITH PREMIER GOSPEL
GUVNA B
BEST AFRICAN MUSIC ACT – IN ASSOCIATION WITH AFROZONS WITH SHEILA O *
WIZKID
BEST REGGAE ACT
SHENSEEA
BEST JAZZ ACT – IN ASSOCIATION WITH BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC
SONS OF KEMET
BEST PRODUCER – IN ASSOCIATION WITH COMPLEX UK
JAE5
MOBO Awards 2021 nominations:
You can see the full list of nominations for the 2021 MOBO Awards below:
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
ARLO PARKS – COLLAPSED IN SUNBEAMS
CELESTE – NOT YOUR MUSE
CLEO SOL – MOTHER
DAVE – WE’RE ALL ALONE IN THIS TOGETHER
GHETTS – CONFLICT OF INTEREST
HEADIE ONE – EDNA
SONG OF THE YEAR – IN ASSOCIATION WITH COVENTRY BUILDING SOCIETY
A1 X J1 – ‘LATEST TRENDS’
CENTRAL CEE – ‘COMMITMENT ISSUES’
DAVE FEAT. STORMZY - ‘CLASH’
ENNY FEAT. AMIA BRAVE – ‘PENG BLACK GIRLS’
PA SALIEU FEAT. BACKROAD GEE – ‘MY FAMILY’
TION WAYNE & RUSS MILLIONS FEAT. ARRDEE, BUGZY MALONE, BUNI, DARKOO, E1 (3X3), FIVIO FOREIGN & ZT (3X3) – ‘BODY (REMIX)’
BEST NEWCOMER – IN ASSOCIATION WITH ASOS
ARLO PARKS
ARRDEE
BACKROAD GEE
BERWYN
CENTRAL CEE
ENNY
JOY CROOKES
MIDAS THE JAGABAN
PINKPANTHERESS
WES NELSON
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
BREE RUNWAY – ‘HOT HOT’ (DIRECTED BY JOCELYN ANQUETIL)
FREDO FEAT. DAVE - ‘MONEY TALKS’ (DIRECTED BY EDEM WORNOO)
LITTLE SIMZ FEAT. CLEO SOL – ‘WOMAN’ (DIRECTED BY LITTLE SIMZ)
M1LLIONZ – ‘LAGGA’ (DIRECTED BY TEEEEZY C)
PA SALIEU FEAT. BACKROAD GEE – ‘MY FAMILY’ (DIRECTED BY FEMI LADI)
SLOWTHAI FEAT. A$AP ROCKY – ‘MAZZA’ (DIRECTED BY THE REST)
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
SLOW THAI
BEST DRILL ACT – IN ASSOCIATION WITH TRENCH
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 AS HENRY IN ‘THEM’
DAMSON IDRIS AS FRANKLIN SAINT IN ‘SNOWFALL’
DANIEL KALUUYA AS FRED HAMPTON IN ‘JUDAS & THE BLACK MESSIAH’
LETITIA WRIGHT AS ALTHEIA JONES-LECOINTE IN ‘SMALL AXE’
MICHEAL WARD AS FRANKLYN IN ‘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 – IN ASSOCIATION WITH PREMIER GOSPEL
CALLEDOUT MUSIC
CECE WINANS
GUVNA B
KIRK FRANKLIN
MAVERICK CITY MUSIC
S.O.
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 – IN ASSOCIATION WITH COMPLEX UK
GOTCHA
JAE 5
JULS
M1ONTHEBEAT
P2J
TSB
When did the MOBO Awards 2021 take place?
The MOBO Awards took place at the Coventry Building Society Arena, taking place on Sunday 5 December. The ceremony was livestreamed on YouTube with coverage across the BBC.
What are the MOBO Awards?
Since 1996, the MOBO Organisation has discovered and supported talent in music, film and TV. MOBO operates 365 days a year to create events, content, partnerships and opportunities for young people in the entertainment industries and beyond. For 25 years, the MOBO Awards has remained a significant cultural event in the British music industry, celebrating excellence in Black music. Its enduring legacy as the premiere outlet for recognising and honouring the artistic achievement of exceptional British and international talent in Hip-Hop, Grime, R&B and Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Gospel and African music has been unparalleled.
The awards have been hosted all over the United Kingdom over the years, including shows in London, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow and Coventry.