Kanya King, the pioneering music executive who founded the MOBO Awards, has died at the age of 57 following a battle with colon cancer.
Her death was announced by the MOBO Organisation in a statement shared on Instagram. According to the organisation, King passed away peacefully on June 3, surrounded by family members and close friends.
The organisation described her passing as a devastating loss while paying tribute to her remarkable impact on British music and culture.
“It is with immeasurable sorrow that the MOBO Organisation announces the passing of its Founder and CEO, Kanya King CBE,” the statement said.
“Kanya passed away peacefully on 3 June 2026 after a courageous and characteristically determined battle with colon cancer. She was surrounded by her family, close friends and love.”
The tribute recalled how King took a major personal risk three decades ago by remortgaging her home to launch the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards in 1996, despite being told there was little interest in celebrating Black music on a mainstream platform.
The organisation noted that she refused to be discouraged and instead created an institution that transformed the British music industry.
“Thirty years ago, Kanya King remortgaged her home, alone, without institutional backing or industry support, to build a stage that would transform British music forever,” the statement added.
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Born in Kilburn, north London, to a Ghanaian father and Irish mother, King recognised the lack of recognition for genres such as R&B, reggae, hip-hop, gospel, jazz and soul. Her vision led to the creation of an awards platform that helped spotlight generations of artists.
The MOBO Organisation credited her with opening doors for numerous stars, including Stormzy, Little Simz, Craig David, Ms. Dynamite, Kano, Central Cee and many others.
“What Kanya created was never simply an awards ceremony. It was an act of cultural justice. MOBO did not just celebrate Black music; it legitimised it, amplified it and transformed the cultural landscape of the UK,” the statement said.
King was honoured with a CBE for her contributions and received an Ivors Academy Honour in 2025. Even after her cancer diagnosis, she remained active and committed to her work.
Recalling her appearance at the 2025 MOBO Awards in Newcastle, organisers highlighted words that reflected her resilience: “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.”
The organisation confirmed that the 2026 MOBO Awards, which marks the event’s 30th anniversary, will be dedicated to her memory.