The Mobo organisation will mark three decades of championing black music and culture with a series of activities throughout November, including the unveiling of a commemorative stone in honour of its late founder, Kanya King.
King died this summer following a battle with colon cancer at the age of 57, three decades after she launched the Mobo Awards music ceremony in 1996. The event has since grown into a national institution, with King playing a major role in bringing black music and culture to the mainstream in the UK.
Paving the Way stone unveiling
The Paving the Way stone will be unveiled on November 18 at King's former school, Queens Park Community College in Queen's Park, London. The date marks exactly 30 years since the first Mobo Awards ceremony was held. The stone honours King's roots and recognises her impact across British music and culture.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, a BBC programme presented by DJ Target will take viewers through some of the most defining moments, performances, and cultural milestones from the Mobo stage since it was first founded in 1996. The programme, Mobo 30: Iconic Moments, will air on November 11 on BBC One.
V&A East Storehouse display
The anniversary celebrations will also see V&A East Storehouse present a special temporary display featuring a selection of memorabilia from the Mobo archive. Opening on November 18, the display features a collection of items capturing the organisation's journey since it was first founded and the wider cultural impact it has made over the past three decades.
The display will remain on view at V&A East Storehouse in east London until summer 2027, coinciding with the conclusion of V&A East Museum's inaugural exhibition, The Music Is Black: A British Story.
