Central Cee, PinkPantheress, Knucks and Little Simz have taken top prizes at this year’s Mobo awards, the annual ceremony celebrating the best in Black musical talent from Britain and abroad. Little Simz and Knucks were crowned joint winners for the album of the year prize, for their albums Sometimes I Might Be Introvert and Alpha Place, respectively; Central Cee won the award for best male act, as well as video of the year for his song Doja, while PinkPantheress won best female act. Also winning two awards was Nigerian afrobeats superstar Burna Boy, who took home trophies for best international act and best African music act.
Little Simz’s win for album of the year comes a year after her first Mobo win, for best female act, and is the capstone to a year that has seen her win the Mercury prize as well as – somewhat controversially – the Brit award for best new act. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is her fourth album.
This is the second year in a row that Central Cee has taken home two awards at the Mobos; last year, he won for best newcomer and best drill act. Overall, 2022 has been a banner year for the London rapper, with his album 23 hitting No 1 in the UK and Doja making the Top 10 in seven countries.
Elsewhere in the ceremony, Derbyshire rapper Bru-C won best newcomer, Mahalia won best R&B/soul act, and D Double E took home best grime act. Inflo – one of the producers of Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, a collaborator on Adele’s blockbuster 30, and leader of mysterious experimental R&B band Sault – won the award for producer of the year.
This year’s Mobo award ceremony was hosted at London’s Ovo Arena Wembley, and was livestreamed on YouTube. The ceremony was hosted by YouTubers Chunkz and Yung Filly, and featured performances from legendary producer and Chic bandleader Nile Rodgers, Craig David, Kojey Radical and more. Rodgers was also honoured with a lifetime achievement award, while David received an award for outstanding contribution. This year’s ceremony featured a tribute to Jamal Edwards MBE, the late DJ and SBTV founder, performed by Emeli Sandé.
Mobo winners 2022
Best male act: Central Cee
Best female act: PinkPantheress
Album of the year: Knucks – Alpha Pace and Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Song of the year: Dreya Mac, FelixThe1st and Finch Fetti – Own Brand (Baddie)
Best newcomer: Bru-C
Video of the year: Central Cee – Doja
Best R&B/soul act: Mahalia
Best grime act: D Double E
Best hip-hop act: D-Block Europe
Best drill act: K-Trap
Best international act: Burna Boy
Best performance in a TV show/film: Kaine Robinson (Kano) as Sully – Top Boy
Best media personality: Nella Rose
Best alternative music act: Bob Vylan
Best electronic/dance act: Nia Archives
Best African music act: Burna Boy
Best gospel act: Still Shadey
Best jazz act: Ezra Collective
Best Caribbean music act: Skillibeng
Best producer: Inflo
Lifetime achievement award: Nile Rodgers
Outstanding contribution award: Craig David
Paving the way award: Jamal Edwards MBE
