The 2025 MOBO Awards at Newcastle's Utilita Arena saw Central Cee win Best Male Act and Ayra Starr become the first African woman to win Best International Act.
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Central Cee has made history at the MOBO Awards, which celebrate Black music and culture, becoming the first artist to win Best Male Act three times.
The West London rapper now holds seven MOBO trophies - tying with Stormzy as the most decorated rapper in the awards' history.
His reaction? Understated as ever. While not present at the ceremony, which took place in Newcastle, he posted a screenshot of the announcement on Instagram, captioning it: “that’s nice.”
Last month, Cench dropped his highly anticipated debut album, Can’t Rush Greatness, which debuted at No.1 on the UK Albums Chart (read our review of it here). He's also up for three BRIT Awards, including Best Artist and Song of the Year.
Bashy, returning after a 15-year hiatus, took home Best Album and Best Hip-Hop Act. Darkoo beat out heavyweights like Raye and Jorja Smith to claim Best Female Act, while Nigerian star Ayra Starr made history as the first African woman to win Best International Act and the first woman in 16 years to take home Best African Music Act.
Meanwhile, dancehall legend Vybz Kartel, recently freed after his murder conviction was overturned, was honoured with the MOBO Impact Award - and he’s already gearing up for a major comeback, with a Wireless Festival performance confirmed for this summer.
Other genre awards saw 2023 Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective named Best Jazz Act, Scorcher win Best Grime Act, Pozer take Best Drill Act, and TSHA claim Best Electronic/Dance Act.
FULL LIST OF MOBO 2025 WINNERS:
Best male act - Central Cee
Best female act - Darkoo
Best newcomer - Odeal
Album of the year - Bashy, Being Poor Is Expensive
Song of the year - Darkoo feat. Dess Dior, Favourite Girl
Video of the year - Mnelia, My Man
Best hip-hop act - Bashy
Best grime act - Scorcher
Best drill act - Pozer
Best R&B/Soul act - Odeal
Best media personality - 90s baby show
Best African music act - Ayra Starr
Best performance in a TV show/ film - Jacob Anderson as Louis in Interview With The Vampire
Best electronic/ dance music act - TSHA
Best gospel act - Annatoria
Best jazz act - Ezra Collective
Best producer - Juls
Best Caribbean music act - Shenseea
Best alternative music act - ALT BLK ERA
Best international act - Ayra Starr
MOBO paving the way award - Denise Lewis MBE
MOBO impact award - Vybz Kartel
