Little Simz and Stormzy lead nominations for MOBO Awards 2024

This year’s nominations see strong representation from female artists and groups, who as a majority are leading nominees across top MOBO Awards categories, including Album of The Year, Song of The Year (supported by BBC Radio 1xtra), Best Newcomer and more.

Little Simz has been nominated for Best Female Act, Album of the Year, Video of The Year and Best Hip Hop Act. Simz won big at last year’s ceremony in London, taking Album of the Year in a joint win with Knucks, which saw a tie for the first time in MOBO history.

Meanwhile Stormzy is nominated for Best Male Act, Album of The Year, Song of The Year, Video of The Year. The widely celebrated MC has won a MOBO Award a record six times, including being the first ever recipient of Best Grime Act when the category was introduced by MOBO in 2014.

A part of the longlist, 22-year-old singer PinkPantheress is tipped once again for Best Female Act after she won in this category in 2022, and is also up for Song of The Year and Best Electronic/Dance Act – a new category returning for a second year.

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Central Cee is up for Best Male Act, Song of The Year and Best Drill Act. He’s been championed by MOBO for years, having won twice in 2021 and 2022, and was tipped by MOBO with his first ever award nominations in 2021. J Hus also has three nominations; Best Male Act, Album of The Year and Song of The Year.

In the Best African Act category, MOBO recognises some of the newer acts who have been thriving in the past year - from South African artist Tyla whose viral hit “Water” became her first Top 40 single and her first-ever number one on the UK's Official Afrobeats Chart, to record-breaking Nigerian rapper and singer Rema and Benin-born Nigerian singer/songwriter Ayra Starr.

Over in the Best Dance/Electronic Act category, the women dominate; Aluna, 2022 winner Nia Archives, PinkPantheress, Shygirl and TSHA are all female artists nominated, as well as the Manchester-based DJ & producer, Salute.

The UK’s biggest and most prestigious celebration of black music and culture will be taking place in Sheffield for the first time ever next year, at the Utilita Arena Sheffield. With preparations underway for showstopping live music performances, there will also be special honours. As well as the existing Paving The Way and Lifetime Achievement Award, MOBO will also introduce the MOBO Impact and MOBO Pioneer Award.