Olivia Dean cleans up again at MOBO Awards – as Pharrell Williams takes special prize for songwriting | Ents & Arts News

First a Grammy, then the Brits – now singer-songwriter Olivia Dean is queen of the MOBO Awards, picking up three of the top prizes.

Dean was named best female act at the ceremony, held at Manchester‘s Co-op Live, and bagged both the album and song of the year prizes for chart-topper The Art Of Loving and its hit track, Man I Need.

The star, whose music blends pop, funk and soul, was also among the night’s performers, alongside acts including FLO, Aitch and Myles Smith, and a grime medley featuring Chip, D Double E, Nolay, Scorcher and Wiley, curated by DJ Target.

This year’s show – celebrating 30 years of the MOBOs – also featured special appearances from US stars Pharrell Williams, who was honoured with the global songwriter award, and Slick Rick, who received a lifetime achievement prize.

Dean can now add her MOBOs to the trophy shelf after her Grammy win in January. She also dominated the Brit Awards last month.

Elsewhere, rapper and singer Jim Legxacy won the gong for best male act, singer-songwriter Raye was honoured in the video of the year category for Where Is My Husband!, and rapper DC3 was named best newcomer and also picked up the prize for best gospel act.

The MOBOs celebrate the best of black music in the UK and internationally, and this year marks the ceremony’s 30th anniversary.

Other awards included best RnB/soul act for FLO, best alternative act for Nova Twins, best hip-hop act for Central Cee, best jazz act for 2023 Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective, best electronic/ dance act for Sherelle, and best producer for P2J.

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There were also international awards for Arya Starr, who was named best international act, Wizkid (best African music act) and Vybz Kartel (best Caribbean music act).

Outside music, YouTuber, influencer and Celebrity Traitors star Niko Omilana was named best media personality, and Stephen Graham – fresh from several BAFTA nods and after wins at the Golden Globes and the Emmys in the US – was recognised for his performance in the groundbreaking series Adolescence.