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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Laura Harding

Kanya King death: Mobo Awards founder dies aged 57 after cancer battle

Kanya King has died aged 57 (Peter Byrne/PA) -

Kanya King, the visionary founder of the Mobo Awards, has died at the age of 57 following a "courageous and characteristically determined battle with colon cancer," her organisation announced.

A single mother from a Kilburn council estate, King was instrumental in elevating Black music and culture into the mainstream in the UK, establishing the prestigious awards ceremony in 1996 despite industry scepticism. The Mobo Awards have since celebrated a diverse array of talent, from Amy Winehouse and Stormzy to Olivia Dean, Raye, and So Solid Crew.

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