Kanya King, the British businesswoman and visionary founder of the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards, has died at the age of 57 following a battle with colon cancer.
Newsonspot reports that King, who dedicated her life to promoting Black music and culture, announced in December 2024 that she had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. Despite her illness, she remained active and was last seen on the red carpet at this year’s MOBO Awards in Manchester.
The news of her passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the entertainment industry. Television host and former Mis-Teeq singer Alesha Dixon described her as an “incredible woman,” adding, “You helped so many people; your impact is immeasurable.”
Founded in 1996 and financed from her own pocket, the MOBO Awards were created to celebrate the achievements of Black musicians at a time when genres such as R&B, hip-hop, reggae, and soul received little recognition from mainstream award ceremonies. Over the past three decades, the awards have grown into a globally respected platform, helping launch and support countless artists while breaking barriers in the music industry.
King’s journey to success was one of determination and resilience. Becoming a mother at just 16 and leaving school early, she refused to let society define her future. She later studied English Literature at Goldsmiths College in London and worked as a television researcher, where she identified the need for an awards platform dedicated to Black music.
Her ambition was often met with rejection. Speaking to Music Week in 2021, King recalled being told that she had “a chip on your shoulder” for speaking about race. Yet she remained committed to her vision, saying that rejection became “normalised” as many people refused to take her calls.
Working from her bedroom, which doubled as her office, King persisted until she secured support from influential figures in the music industry, including Dej Mahoney and Stevie Wonder’s former manager, Keith Harris. Her determination paid off when the first MOBO Awards ceremony was successfully staged in London just seven weeks after her proposal was accepted.
The inaugural event attracted widespread attention, with then-Labour leader Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie Blair, attending the ceremony. Music legends Lionel Richie and Tina Turner also featured prominently, with Richie receiving the first-ever MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award.
As the awards gained prominence, they became a major fixture in the UK music calendar, showcasing stars such as Craig David, Kano, Amy Winehouse, Stormzy, Destiny’s Child, Usher, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, and BB King. The platform also played a significant role in promoting UK garage, grime, Afrobeat, and other African music genres before they achieved mainstream success.
However, the journey was not without challenges. In 2002, negative media coverage linked violence at an unrelated after-party to the MOBO Awards, causing sponsors to withdraw. To keep the event alive, King reportedly remortgaged her home for a second time.
Her contributions to music and culture earned national recognition. She was awarded an MBE in 1999 for services to music and later received a CBE in 2018 for her outstanding contributions to music and culture.
Beyond music, King championed diversity and inclusion through initiatives such as Mobolise, aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of Black talent across influential industries. She also served on several advisory bodies, including the Creative Industries Council and the UK Music Diversity Task Force.
During the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, she penned an open letter calling for meaningful action against systemic racism, emphasizing the need for greater representation and equal opportunities.
Even after revealing her cancer diagnosis, King remained optimistic, saying, “While this journey will undoubtedly be challenging, I’ve always believed in finding meaning through adversity. If my story can save just one life, then it’s a story worth telling.”
At this year’s MOBO Awards, Pharrell Williams paid tribute to her determination, praising her commitment to her work despite undergoing cancer treatment.
Kanya King leaves behind a remarkable legacy as a pioneering entrepreneur, cultural leader, and advocate whose vision transformed the recognition of Black music and inspired generations of artists and creators worldwide.
