Central Cee, Vybz Kartel & More Among MOBO Awards 2025 Winners: Full List

Central Cee, Ayra Starr and Vybz Kartel were all winners at the MOBO Awards (Music Of Black Origin) in Newcastle, England, on Tuesday evening (Feb. 18). The ceremony honors homegrown and international artists from diverse scenes including hip-hop, R&B, grime, jazz, and Afrobeats.

First held in 1996, the MOBOs were founded by Kanya King and Andy Ruffell to provide representation for Black artists at a dedicated ceremony. The awards were held every year up until 2017. Following a brief hiatus, they returned in 2021 and 2022, but took a fallow year in 2023 and resumed once again in 2024.

Central Cee scooped the best male act prize for the second year in a row, and gave the Londoner his seventh MOBO trophy overall. The win puts him level with Stormzy as the most-decorated UK rapper in the Awards’ history. 

British-Nigerian Afrobeats star Darkoo was victorious in the best female act category, earning the 23-year-old her debut MOBO Award. She also performed at the ceremony alongside Spice, Krept & Konan, Odeal, Nova Twins, Bashy and more.

The ceremony was hosted by comedian Eddie Kadi and Love Island star Indiyah Polack and broadcast live on YouTube. Highlights from the ceremony will air on BBC One on Friday evening (Feb. 21).

There were also wins in major categories for Bashy, who scooped best album for Being Poor Is Expensive, which featured in Billboard U.K.’s albums of the year list in December. Song of the year went to Darkoo for her Dess Dior collaboration “Favourite Girl,” while Benin-born, Nigeria-raised Ayra Starr won best international artist (the first African female to win the prize) and best African music act (the first female to win for 16 years).

Vybz Kartel won the honorary MOBO impact award, which in recent years has been awarded to pop trio Sugababes and boxer Frank Bruno. Ezra Collective prevailed in the best jazz category for the third time in their career; the London group are nominated for four awards at this year’s BRIT Awards on March 1.

In recent years the MOBOs has broadened its categories to recognise the contributions made by Black artists to the U.K’s rock scene and its club culture. At 2025’s ceremony, rock duo Alt Blk Era won the best alternative act, while DJ and producer TSHA picked up best dance act.

See the full winners of the MOBO Awards 2025 below.

Best male act

Bashy

WINNER: Central Cee

D-Block Europe

Ghetts

Nemzzz

Sampha

Best female act

Cleo Sol

WINNER: Darkoo

Jorja Smith

Little Simz

Nia Archives

Raye

Album of the year

WINNER: 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”

WINNER: 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

WINNER: Odeal

Pozer

Video of the year

Meekz – “Mini Me’s” (Directed By Kc Locke)

WINNER: 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

Cleo Sol

Elmiene

Flo

Jaz Karis

Jorja Smith

Nippa

WINNER: Odeal

Sasha Keable

Shae Universe

Sinead Harnett

Best alternative music act

WINNER: ALT BLK ERA

Bob Vylan

Hak Baker

Kid Bookie

Native James

Spider

Best grime act

Chip

D Double E

Duppy

Kruz Leone

Manga Saint Hilare

WINNER: Scorcher

Best hip hop act

WINNER: Bashy

Cristale

Headie One

Nines

Potter Payper

Skrapz

Best drill act

163Margs

Central Cee

Headie One

Kairo Keyz

K-trap

WINNER: Pozer

Best international act

Asake

WINNER: 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

WINNER: 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

WINNER: 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

Asake (Nigeria)

WINNER: 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

WINNER: Shenseea

Skillibeng

Spice

Valiant

Yg Marley

Best jazz act

Amy Gadiaga

Blue Lab Beats

Ego Ella May

WINNER: Ezra Collective

Kokoroko

Yussef Dayes

Best electronic/dance act

Eliza Rose

Nia Archives

Pinkpantheress

Salute

Shygirl

WINNER: Tsha

Best producer

Ceebeaats

Inflo

WINNER: Juls

M1onthebeat

P2j

Sammy Soso

Best gospel act

WINNER: Annatoria

Imrhan

Limoblaze

Reblah

Still Shadey

Volney Morgan & New Ye