MOBO Awards Founder Kanya King Dies at 57 Following Cancer Diagnosis

Kanya King CBE, the visionary founder and CEO of the MOBO Awards, has passed away at the age of 57, as confirmed by her organization.

In an official statement, the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) team shared that King “passed away peacefully on Wednesday (June 3) following a courageous and characteristically determined battle with colon cancer,” surrounded by her loved ones.

King’s legacy is defined by her role in establishing the MOBO Awards, which reached a milestone 30th anniversary in 2026. Since its inception, the platform has become a vital stage for celebrating Black musical talent both in the U.K. and internationally, with 2026’s ceremony featuring standout performances from artists like Olivia Dean and FLO.

Over the decades, the awards ceremony has served as a launchpad and a badge of honor for industry titans including Stormzy, Amy Winehouse, 50 Cent, Sade, and Central Cee. The event’s history is studded with legendary performances from the likes of Destiny’s Child, Lauryn Hill, and Rihanna.

Reflecting on her impact, the organization noted, “What Kanya created was never simply an awards ceremony; it was an act of cultural justice. MOBO did not just celebrate Black music—it legitimized it, amplified it, and demonstrated its immense creative and commercial power to a world that had too often chosen to look away.”

Following a 2024 diagnosis of stage four colon cancer, King remained a symbol of defiance and strength. At the 2025 MOBOs, she told the audience: “I never allowed anyone to define my limits. Not in life. Not in business. And I am certainly not going to have that happen now.”

Born in Kilburn, London, in 1969 to a Ghanaian father and an Irish mother, King was working as a TV researcher when she launched the MOBOs alongside Andy Ruffell in 1996. In a recent interview with Billboard U.K., she recalled the early struggle for representation, noting that at the time, “there was no real infrastructure or clear pathways for Black music. Institutional recognition was virtually nonexistent.” Demonstrating her commitment, she even remortgaged her home to finance the inaugural ceremony.

Beyond the red carpet, King championed social initiatives, including the recent establishment of the “House of MOBOs”—a space designed to foster collaboration and growth for Black creatives. Having been awarded an MBE in 1999, she was later elevated to a CBE in 2018 for her services to the music industry.

“The world was a profoundly better place with Kanya King in it,” the statement concluded. “While the MOBO family is heartbroken, we remain endlessly grateful, proud, and inspired by her profound contribution to music, culture, and the future generations she empowered.”

Kanya King is survived by her son, Jem.

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