The 26th MOBO Awards, held at the Utility Arena in Sheffield, honored UK artists including Little Simz and Stormzy, who led the nominations list of the annual event celebrating black music and culture. More than 70 schools across Sheffield participated in the celebration, with over 5,000 children performing Stormzy’s classic hit, “Blinded By Your Grace.” The video, featuring 145 separate performances and eight young rappers who re-wrote the rap section with a distinct Sheffield take, was a remarkable display of talent and unity.
The initiative, led by Sheffield Music Hub and Sheffield City Council, involved bespoke workshops with Sheffield-based recording artists for young people not currently engaged with education. Martin Smith, chair of the council’s Economic Skills and Development Committee, expressed enthusiasm about the involvement of local schools and the positive impact of exploring the influence of black music and culture on young people. He highlighted the cover of “Blinded By Your Grace” as an example of Sheffield kids coming together to celebrate, emphasizing its powerful and impactful representation of the city’s connection to the MOBO Awards .
Mobo Awards founder and CEO Kanya King expressed delight at the extraordinary celebration in Sheffield, emphasizing the game-changing collaboration between Sheffield City Council and MOBO. The event marked a significant milestone with the first-of-its-kind MOBO Awards Sheffield – The Fringe, showcasing the city’s rich underground talent and engaging with the community to elevate the underground scene . “Witnessing the extraordinary celebration in Sheffield, including the build-up to the first of its kind Mobo Awards Sheffield – The Fringe, for our 26th edition is truly heartening.The collaborative effort between Sheffield City Council and Mobo has been game-changing.”
