Popcaan, Shenseea, Skillibeng, Spice, Valiant, and YG Marley are the nominees for the Best Caribbean Music Act at the 2025 MOBO Awards, celebrating music of black origin in the U.K.
The category was first implemented in 2022 when Skillibeng won the award and last year Valiant was the winner. YG Marley is the only first time MOBO nominee. Shenseea, and Popcaan have previously won the now discontinued Best Reggae Act category.
Elsewhere, U.K. actor Kingsley Ben-Adir has made history as the first-ever nominee in the category, Best Performance in a TV Show/Film, for his critically acclaimed portrayal of reggae legend Bob Marley in Bob Marley: One Love.
Ben-Adir faces stiff competition in this category, with an impressive lineup of nominees including Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman in Eastenders, Caroline Chikezie as Noma in Power Book II: Ghost, Diane Parish as Denise Fox in Eastenders, Dionne Brown as Queenie in Queenie, Ghetts as Krazy in Supacell, Jacob Anderson as Louis in Interview with the Vampire, Jasmine Jobson as Jaq in Top Boy, Josh Tedeku as Tazer in Supacell and Tosin Cole as Michael in Supacell.
The MOBO Awards are spotlighting this success with the Best African Music Act category, presented in association with Loco Music. The nominees include an array of trailblazing stars:
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- BNXN & Ruger (Nigeria)
- King Promise (Ghana)
- Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- Tems (Nigeria)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
MOBO Founder Kanya King CBE, said in a statement: “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.
The MOBO Awards 2025 with be held in New Castle for the first time at the Utilita Arena on February 18.
Here’s the complete list of this year’s contenders:
Best Male Act
- Bashy
- Central Cee
- D-Block Europe
- Ghetts
- Nemzzz
- Sampha
Best Female Act (In Association with Got2b)
- Cleo Sol
- Darkoo
- Jorja Smith
- Little Simz
- Nia Archives
- Raye
Album of the Year
- Bashy – Being Poor Is Expensive
- Cleo Sol – Gold
- Ghetts – On Purpose, With Purpose
- Jorja Smith – Falling or Flying
- Sampha – Lahai
- Skrapz – Reflection
Song of the Year
- Central Cee Feat. Lil Baby – Band4band
- Chase & Status, Stormzy – Backbone
- Darkoo Feat. Dess Dior – Favourite Girl
- Jordan Adetunji – Kehlani
- Leostaytrill – Pink Lemonade
- Odeal – Soh-Soh
Best Newcomer
- Chy Cartier
- Elmiene
- Fimiguerrero
- Flowerovlove
- Jordan Adetunji
- Len
- Leostaytrill
- Myles Smith
- Odeal
- Pozer
Video of the Year (In Association with LNER)
- Meekz – Mini Me’s (Directed by KC Locke)
- Mnelia – My Man (Directed by Femi Bello)
- Raye – Genesis (Directed by Otis Dominique & Raye)
- Sampha – Only (Directed by Dexter Navy)
- Skepta – Gas Me Up (Diligent) (Directed by Steveo)
- Unknown T Feat. Loyle Carner – Hocus Pocus (Directed by Felix Brady)
Best R&B/Soul Act (Supported by Kiss FM)
- Cleo Sol
- Elmiene
- Flo
- Jaz Karis
- Jorja Smith
- Nippa
- Odeal
- Sasha Keable
- Shae Universe
- Sinead Harnett
Best Alternative Music Act (In Association with Marshall)
- ALT BLK ERA
- Bob Vylan
- Hak Baker
- Kid Bookie
- Native James
- Spider
Best Grime Act (Supported by Trench)
- Chip
- D Double E
- Duppy
- Kruz Leone
- Manga Saint Hilare
- Scorcher
Best Hip Hop Act (Supported by BBC Radio 1Xtra)
- Bashy
- Cristale
- Headie One
- Nines
- Potter Payper
- Skrapz
Best Drill Act
- 163Margs
- Central Cee
- Headie One
- Kairo Keyz
- K-Trap
- Pozer
Best International Act
- Asake
- Ayra Starr
- Beyoncé
- GloRilla
- Kendrick Lamar
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Nicki Minaj
- Tems
- Tyla
Best Performance in a TV Show/Film
- Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman in Eastenders
- Caroline Chikezie as Noma in Power Book II: Ghost
- Diane Parish as Denise Fox in Eastenders
- Dionne Brown as Queenie in Queenie
- Ghetts as Krazy in Supacell
- Jacob Anderson as Louis in Interview with the Vampire
- Jasmine Jobson as Jaq in Top Boy
- Josh Tedeku as Tazer in Supacell
- Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley in Bob Marley: One Love
- Tosin Cole as Michael in Supacell
Best Media Personality
- 90’s Baby Show
- AJ Odudu
- Chuckie Online
- Craig Mitch
- Henrie Kwushue
- Madame Joyce
- Micah Richards
- Specs Gonzalez
- The Receipts Podcast
- Zeze Millz
Best African Music Act (In Association with Loco Music)
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- BNXN & Ruger (Nigeria)
- King Promise (Ghana)
- Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- Tems (Nigeria)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
Best Caribbean Music Act
- Popcaan
- Shenseea
- Skillibeng
- Spice
- Valiant
- YG Marley
Best Jazz Act
- Amy Gadiaga
- Blue Lab Beats
- Ego Ella May
- Ezra Collective
- Kokoroko
- Yussef Dayes
Best Electronic/Dance Act (Supported by Mixmag)
- Eliza Rose
- Nia Archives
- PinkPantheress
- Salute
- Shygirl
- TSHA
Best Producer
- CeeBeeAats
- Inflo
- Juls
- M1onthebeat
- P2J
- Sammy Soso
Best Gospel Act (Supported by Premier Gospel)
- Annatoria
- Imrhan
- Limoblaze
- Reblah
- Still Shadey
- Volney Morgan & New Ye
