Kanya King, Founder of the MOBO Awards, Dies After Battle With Colon Cancer

The music world is mourning the loss of Kanya King CBE, the visionary entrepreneur and founder of the MOBO Awards, who has died following a battle with colon cancer.

The MOBO Organisation announced that King passed away peacefully on 3 June 2026, surrounded by her family, close friends and loved ones. She was 57.

For millions of music fans, Kanya King was more than an awards founder. She was a trailblazer who challenged an industry that had long overlooked Black music and Black talent, creating a platform that would go on to redefine British music culture.

Thirty years ago, King took a risk that many considered impossible. A single mother from a council estate in Kilburn, North West London, she remortgaged her home to launch the MOBO Awards-short for Music of Black Origin-despite being told there was no audience for Black music and no appetite for such an event within the industry.

Rather than accepting rejection, she built her own stage.

Just weeks later, the first MOBO Awards aired on national television, introducing a new era for British music and creating a platform that would elevate generations of artists.

Over the years, MOBO became one of the most influential music institutions in the United Kingdom, celebrating artists across genres including R&B, hip-hop, grime, soul, reggae, jazz and Afrobeats. The awards helped shine a spotlight on talents such as Stormzy, Little Simz, Craig David, Ms. Dynamite, Kano, Central Cee, Krept & Konan, RAYE and countless others.

But King's impact extended far beyond music.

For many Black artists and creatives, MOBO represented recognition in an industry where opportunities were often limited. It became a cultural institution that validated Black creativity, amplified underrepresented voices and pushed conversations about diversity and inclusion into the mainstream.

In a tribute, the MOBO Organisation described King's work as "an act of cultural justice," noting that she had transformed the cultural landscape of Britain through her determination and vision.

Despite receiving a diagnosis of colon cancer, King remained active and engaged with the organisation she built. During the 2025 MOBO Awards in Newcastle, just months after her diagnosis, she delivered a message that reflected the resilience that defined her life.

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"I never allowed someone to define my limits. Not in life. Not in business. And I'm certainly not going to have that happen now," she told the audience.

King's contributions earned her numerous honours throughout her career, including a CBE for services to music and culture. In 2025, she was also awarded an Ivors Academy Honour in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the music industry.

The 2026 MOBO Awards, which mark the organisation's landmark 30th anniversary year, will now be dedicated to her memory.

Tributes have begun pouring in from artists, industry leaders and fans across the world, many crediting King with opening doors that had previously been closed to Black musicians and entrepreneurs.

Her passing marks the end of an era, but her influence will continue to shape British music for generations to come.

Kanya King did not simply create an awards show.

She created a movement.

And in doing so, she changed the soundtrack of a nation forever.