MOBO Awards founder Kanya King CBE has revealed that she’s been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer.
In a post on Instagram, she said the diagnosis was something she “never saw coming” and that she’s “still processing this unexpected reality.” She wrote that “this diagnosis has tested me in ways I never imagined, but it has also given me a renewed sense of purpose”, reminding us that “life isn’t just about how long you live; it’s about how deeply you live.”
Speaking to a friend in her video, she confidently told them that she believes “these things happen for a reason. I’ve overcome so many things in my life, this is another thing that I’ll overcome.” She also encouraged others to be alert and aware of their wellbeing – “Be proactive, be the CEO of your own health”, recommending getting tests, namely FIT (fecal immunochemical tests) and being vigilant if something doesn’t feel right.
Kanya, the founder and CEO of the MOBO awards, was recently awarded the 2024 LIVEtime Achievement honour at the music industry’s LIVE Awards, recognising her incredible contribution to the industry and culture since the 90’s.
While working as a TV researcher after studying at Goldsmiths University, she realised there was no British awards ceremony celebrating black music and its influence. Setting out to make her own, she struggled to find financial backing – determined to make it a reality, she re-mortgaged her house to fund the TV production. She then persuaded Carlton TV to broadcast the first ceremony in 1996 at London’s Connaught Rooms, managing and organising the event within just six weeks.
The MOBO’s have been a driving force in shining a spotlight on British music that might not receive the recognition it deserves elsewhere – celebrating and giving categories to genres like Jungle, Garage, Grime and Drill.
Their shows have been star-studded spectacles before, welcoming appearances from international stars throughout the years like Lauryn Hill, Damien Marley and 50 Cent. They’ve also helped to platform talent on their rise to fame, giving the Best Newcomer accolade to artists like Akala, Kano, Ms Dynamite before their mainstream breakthroughs, and giving Stormzy the award for Best Grime Act in 2014 when he was on the cusp of stardom.
As well as the groundbreaking awards ceremony, the MOBO’s organization does charitable work through the MOBO Trust, advancing education in the performing arts for young people with diverse backgrounds. The organization also runs programmes to provide opportunities to emerging talent to aid their creative development, as well as providing grants to support the careers of talented artists.
In another Instagram post, the MOBO’s shared the news of Kanya’s diagnosis and commended her resilience and wished her well. They said she “remains unshakeably determined and full of purpose”, setting her sights on being at the next awards “to celebrate the achievements of our community.”
Next year’s MOBO Awards nominees have been announced recently with an exciting shortlist: grime legends like Bashy and Ghetts, R&B stars including Jorja Smith and Sampha, electronic acts like Nia Archives and alternative rockers such as Hak Baker and Bob Vylan. The awards will be hosted in Newcastle for the first time, at the Utilita Arena on the 18th February, 2025.
To vote for your favourite nominees, click here.
