Dancehall/Reggae phenomena Popcaan, Shenseea, Skillibeng, Spice, Valiant, and YG Marley will compete for the title of “Best Caribbean Music Act” at the 2025 MOBO Awards, which honors British music of Black descent.
Additionally, British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir has been nominated for Best Performance in a TV Show/Film. In the biopic “Bob Marley: One Love,” the Trinidadian-heritage actor won praise from critics for his depiction of reggae legend Bob Marley.
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In the category of “Best Caribbean Music Act,” Spice and Valiant are celebrating their second nomination, while Shenseea, Popcaan, and Skillibeng are receiving their third. Notably, YG Marley is the only first-time nomination in the category. The first prize was given to Skillibeng in 2022, and Valiant won the award the following year, in 2023.
Popcaan and Shenseea had previously taken first place in the now-discontinued “Best Reggae Act” category.
Kanya King, the founder of MOBO, said she was excited about this year’s candidates, “Each and every time we unveil the MOBO Awards nominations, I am taken aback by the sheer amount of incredible talent we have in the UK. It inspires us all to continue pushing the industry to be more inclusive of a greater variety of Black music and culture.”
King added, “The music coming out of the UK this past year has been some of the best we have had in years. These distinct, uncompromising voices – across different genres from R&B and Soul to Grime, Hip-Hop to Jazz and Alternative – are not just soundtracks for our days. They provide healing and reflection, and also escapism in times of need. A huge congratulations to all our nominees across music, film and television, and entertainment. We look forward to welcoming you in Newcastle!”
On February 18, 2025, the 2025 MOBO Awards will stage their inaugural event in Newcastle at the Utilita Arena, marking a historic milestone.
