REGGAE NOMONIEES FOR 2022 MOBO AWARDS

The MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin) have replaced the “Best Reggae Act” category in favor of “Best Caribbean Music Act” for its 25th anniversary.

Jamaican artists Sean Paul, Spice, Koffee, Popcaan, Shenseea and Skillibeng are the nominees for 2022. Skillibeng is also riding high as the only Jamaican nominated for ‘Best International Act. He will face strong competition from the likes of Tems, Beyonce, Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Drake, Jack Harlow, Jazmine Sullivan, Kendrick Lamar and Summer Walkers. 

The nominations were announced today, November 11th and the presentation will be held at the OVO Arena in London on November 30, 2022.  The winner of the ‘Best Caribbean Music Act’ category will be determined by a MOBO Awards specialist committee.

Spice, Shenseea, Sean Paul and Koffee all released studio albums in 2022, while Popcaan and Skillibeng are working on new albums. Both Koffee and Paul are Grammy nominees as well. The list is similar to last year as Spice, Shenseea, Sean Paul, Popcaan, Skillibeng, and Lila Iké were all nominated in 2021. The ‘Best Reggae Act’ category was first issued in 1996. This is the second nomination for singer Shenseea, who made history last year, becoming the first female to win for “Best Reggae Act”. The” Crocodile Teeth” deejay Skillibeng is a four-time nominee, who was also nominated for ‘Best Reggae Act’ and ‘Best International Act’, last year.

It’s the third nomination for both Spice and Grammy Award winner Koffee. Buju Banton was the winner in 2020 while Damian Marley won in 2017. The awards were omitted in 2018 and 2019. Popcaan is an eight time nominee who won back-to-back, in 2015 and 2016. Sean Paul was the big winner in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2013.