Music awards to recognise black Welsh artists

A new set of awards has been launched to recognise the work of black Welsh artists.

The Black Welsh Music Awards aim to become "the Welsh Mobos" – Music of Black Origin Awards – and elevate artists in a variety of genres including Afrobeats, grime and reggae, and will have a category for nominations for a best Welsh language track.

Benji Webbe, frontman of reggae metal band Skindred, is the only black Welsh artist to win a Mobo, winning Best Alternative Act in the 2024 ceremony.

The awards have been described as "long overdue" by artists and organisers.

Webbe said he felt the Mobos, which started in 1996, do not go far enough to celebrate Welsh talent.

"There should be a Celtic category," he said.

He said winning the Mobo led to bigger things for the band, including headlining at Wembley Arena.

"The prestige of winning the Mobo was lovely. After winning anything it gives you notoriety the world over and it does help you."

The Newport artist said he was "very excited" to see the new Black Welsh Music Awards unfold – but added it had to be done right.

He said: "Black Welsh music awards will help the community as long as [the organisers] do it well – they need to make sure they do their research to find out who's been grafting without a record deal for the last 20 years.

"It has to be about the small guys, not a 'luvvie' event with lots of people patting each other on the back.

"Everyone nominated needs to be celebrated, not just those who win. Being nominated in the first place is a wonderful thing."

Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE, co-founder of the new awards, said the "unique Welsh landscape" of black artists needed to be celebrated.

"We thought MOBO would filter down to Wales in the form of fringe events, exposure and raising of Welsh artists. That hasn't really happened. So we're growing our own organically," she said.

She added that the event is "about representation, celebration and legacy".

"Our Wales-based MOBO musicians are making history and we're inviting everyone to be part of it. Our time is now," she said.

Singer-songwriter Molara Awen, best known for starring in S4C's Welsh language programme Gogglebocs, said the awards were a "very important initiative" for the music industry in Wales.

"Black music is as old as the origins of humankind, from the talking drum to the balafon, the kora to the orutu," she said. "We hear much of xylophones, harps and violins, but very little of the instruments which preceded them by centuries."

Singer and composer Dionne Bennett said the awards were not just about "accolades" but about supporting black artists in their careers.

"It's about building an infrastructure," she said.

The first Black Welsh Music Awards will be held in October, with nominations now open.