MOBO has announced the death of British entrepreneur and cultural figure Kanya King, founder of the annual music awards that recognise achievements in "music of African American origin", at the age of 57.
In 1996, King founded the MOBO Awards to celebrate and recognise the music of Black British artists across a wide range of genres, including hip-hop, grime, pop, R&B, soul, jazz and many others.
From Goldie to Gabrielle, Miss Dynamite to Stormzy, Little Simz to Olivia Dean, the MOBO Awards have celebrated and rewarded countless artists who have shaped and defined modern music.
«"It is with immense sadness that MOBO announces the passing of its founder and CEO, Kanya King OBE," the organization said in a statement.
«"The music world has lost one of its most fearless champions," the post added, describing how she created the organisation as "a single mother from Kilburn council estate who was told that black music was too niche, that there was no market and that the industry wasn't interested.".
«"Instead of arguing, she built. Six weeks later, the first MOBO Awards ceremony was broadcast nationwide, and from then on, everything changed.".
«"The MOBO Awards didn't just celebrate Black music; they legitimized it, amplified it, and transformed the UK cultural landscape. From Stormzy, Little Simz, and RAYE to Craig David, Ms. Dynamite, Amy Winehouse, Central Cee, and countless others, generations of artists have benefited from Kanya King's vision. She created a platform that reached hundreds of millions of people around the world.".
In 2024, King announced that she had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, and a statement confirmed that she died "peacefully on June 3, 2026, after a courageous and, as always, determined battle with colon cancer.".
Following the news of her death, many expressed their condolences.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan called King a "true pioneer" who "changed the face of culture and music", while Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "She was a true pioneer who changed British music for the better through the MOBO Awards.".
Rapper Stormzy paid tribute with heart and dove emojis, Mis-Teeq singer Alesha Dixon called King an "incredible woman" whose "influence is immeasurable," and Idris Elba said she was gone "too soon.".
The actor added: "You were an inspiration to me. Your dedication to this craft is unmatched. I will miss you, @kanyakingcbe, we all will.".
JLS's Oritse Williams called King a "trailblazer" who "created a powerful platform championing cultures, communities, and talent that have often gone unnoticed and underrepresented, even as our cultural impact has been felt around the world.".
He added: "You didn't just create opportunity; you created faith. Faith in our culture, our creativity, and our potential. You are an icon, a true visionary, and I believe your influence will be felt for generations to come.".
Rest in peace, Kanya King 1969 - 2026