MOBO AWARDS TO HONOUR PHARRELL WILLIAMS WITH GLOBAL SONGWRITER AWARD IN MANCHESTER

The countdown is officially on for the 30th anniversary of the MOBO Awards. This week, organisers have leveled up the excitement by announcing the legendary honorees and a fresh wave of performers set to take the stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live on March 26.

As Europe’s premier celebration of Black music and culture prepares for its milestone three-decade gala, the ceremony – hosted by the iconic Eve and comedian Eddie Kadi – promises to be a definitive moment in music history.

This year’s special honours celebrate two “cultural architects” who have fundamentally shifted the trajectory of modern music.

Visionary producer and artist Pharrell Williams will receive the MOBO Global Songwriter Award, recognising his extensive catalogue that has defined the sound of pop, hip-hop, and R&B for over twenty years.

Then legendary storyteller Slick Rick will also be celebrated with the MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award. In a highly anticipated “full-circle” moment, Slick Rick will also join forces with Estelle for a unique collaborative performance tracing his historic journey through Hip Hop.

Kanya King CBE, Founder and CEO of the MOBO Group, says:

“Pharrell Williams’ songwriting genius has influenced the sound of global music for decades, while Slick Rick’s storytelling laid the foundations for generations of hip hop artists,”

Adding to the star power, Jamaican sensation Shenseea has been added to a performance roster that already reads like a “who’s who” of global music. The night will feature global superstar Tiwa Savage, homegrown talent Olivia Dean, FLO, Aitch and Myles Smith.

Also on the line-up is the Grime 25 segment, curated by the legendary DJ Target, designed to serve as a high-energy tribute to the genre’s birth and evolution in the UK.

If you can’t make it to Manchester, the MOBOs are ensuring fans worldwide can join the party via a massive digital and broadcast rollout. Amazon Music returns as the Official Digital Music Streaming Partner with the ceremony streaming live on the Amazon Music UK Twitch channel starting at 8:00 PM GMT on March 26.

Oh addition to this, on March 27th, BBC One will air an exclusive special hosted by DJ Target, offering candid backstage moments and interviews with the night’s winners. Meanwhile BBC Radio 1Xtra will lead the charge with Nadia Jae broadcasting live from Salford on the 26th and 27th, bringing red carpet energy directly to the airwaves.

Finally, for those feeling nostalgic, the “MOBO at 30: Greatest Moments” special will be available on BBC iPlayer, reflecting on three decades of iconic performances.

Still, the best place to be is at Manchester’s Co-op Arena on Thursday 26th March – tickets are available now at mobo.com/tickets.