Kanya King, the pioneering London-born entertainment entrepreneur who co-founded the iconic Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards alongside Andy Ruffell in 1996, has passed away at the age of 57. Her death was formally announced by the MOBO Organisation in an official statement published across the organization’s verified social media channels on Friday.
“It is with immeasurable sorrow that the MOBO Organisation announces the passing of its founder and CEO, Kanya King CBE. Kanya passed away peacefully on June 3, 2026 after a courageous and characteristically determined battle with colon cancer. She was surrounded by her family, close friends and love,” the statement shared.
Throughout her decades-long career, King dedicated herself tirelessly to elevating the often-overlooked contributions of Black musicians to British cultural life. When launching the awards, she self-funded the first ceremony from her personal savings, turning a small passion project into one of the most influential music recognition platforms in the world.
Over more than 30 years of operation, the MOBO Awards have earned global acclaim for their consistent commitment to centering Black musical talent, creating a launchpad for emerging artists and challenging outdated structural barriers across the mainstream music industry. From the very first ceremony in 1996, the awards included a dedicated Best Reggae Act category, with British reggae performer Peter Hunnigale taking home the inaugural honor. In the decades that followed, the category counted many of the genre’s biggest names among its winners, including international stars such as Popcaan, Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Damian Marley, Glamma Kid, Mr. Vegas, Gyptian, Mavado, Alborosie and Stylo G.
To reflect the evolving landscape of the genre and expand its scope, the category was renamed Best Caribbean Music Act in 2022, a change that has allowed for recognition of a wider range of regional sounds. Winners of the updated category since the rebrand include Shenseea, Valiant and Vybz Kartel, continuing the MOBO Awards’ legacy of championing diverse Black and Caribbean musical talent.