The music industry is mourning the loss of Kanya King, founder and CEO of the MOBOs, who passed away peacefully on 3 June 2026 following a battle with colon cancer.
King was more than the creator of an awards show. She was a visionary who transformed the landscape of British music and created opportunities for generations of Black artists.
Thirty years ago, as a single mother from a council estate in Kilburn, King remortgaged her home to launch the MOBO Awards after being told there was no market for Black music in Britain. Instead of accepting those limitations, she built a platform that would go on to become one of the most influential institutions in UK music.
Since its launch in 1996, The MOBOs has celebrated and elevated artists including Stormzy, Little Simz, RAYE, Craig David, Ms. Dynamite, Kano and Central Cee, while helping to bring Black music and culture to the mainstream.
King’s contribution to music and culture was recognised with a CBE and an honour from The Ivors Academy in 2025.
Even after being diagnosed with cancer, she continued to inspire. At the 2025 MOBO Awards in Newcastle, she told the audience: “I never allowed someone to define my limits. Not in life. Not in business. And I’m certainly not going to have that happen now.”
The 2026 MOBO Awards, marking the organisation’s 30th anniversary, will be dedicated to her memory.
Kanya King’s legacy lives on through the countless artists, careers and cultural barriers she helped shape and break.
British music would not look the same without her. Rest in peace
By Topsy
