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As we wait to find out what the slightly delayed Mobos have in store for us this year, here’s a recap of the Mobo stars of 2024.

• Best hip-hop act went to Little Simz, who told the BBC she was "buzzing" and had enjoyed the best year of her career to date
• Raye bagged the best female trophy, weeks beforemaking history by winning a record-breaking six awards at the Brits
• Stormzy won video of the year for his visuals for Mel Made Me Do It
• Central Cee was named best male - he and Dave were also given the award for best song for their hit Sprinter
• The inaugural impact award went to Sugababes, while another veteran act, Soul II Soul, were honoured with the lifetime achievement award
• And Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, who was born and raised in Sheffield, took home the paving the way trophy

Rapper Ghetts is up for three Mobos tonight, and he told the BBC's Lola Schroer a short while ago it's the first time an artist is nominated for both TV and music awards.

"'Ground-breaking Ghetts - y'know what I mean," he jokes.

On creating his album On Purpose, With Purpose, Ghetts was asking the big questions - what is life other than working and paying bills and questioning his purpose.

"Everything I do needs to be intentional, whether I go left or right. And it feels very fulfilling when doing things intentionally," he says.

"There's this uncontrollable great energy," at the awards, he adds.

Riyah Collins
BBC Newsbeat

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The awards ceremony is running a few minutes fashionably behind schedule, so while we can, let's highlight one of the moments that could be history-making tonight.

Nominated again for best male artist, Central Cee could become the first musician to win the award three times.

The Sprinter hitmaker recently released his first album, Can’t Rush Greatness, which came after more than a decade in the game and eight top 10 singles.

Radio 1 & 1Xtra DJ Kenny Allstar says his potential for greatness has been there all along.

"He studied the game before he entered it," Kenny says.

Not rushing his album was because Central Cee understood “we’re in a singles market”, with fans not ready to hear an in-depth project.

"And now we find ourselves with him producing undoubtedly one of the most eagerly anticipated UK rap projects of all time,” Kenny adds.

He won the award last year (though didn’t attend), and this year is up against stars including Bashy, Sampha and D-Block Europe.

The rapper, also known as Cench, is also nominated for best drill act and song of the year for Band4Band.

• Read BBC Newsbeat's article on Central Cee’s journey to the top

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Eight of the 20 Mobo Awards have been announced ahead of the main ceremony, which will be getting started any moment now.

Here's a look at those early winners:

• Ayra Starr wins best international act, beating Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar
• Tsha takes the trophy for best electronic/dance act
• Best drill act goes to Pozer
• Juls wins the Mobo for best producer
• The trophy for best Caribbean music act goes to Shenseea
• Best performance in a TV show/film is won by Jacob Anderson for his role as Louis In Interview With The Vampire
• Ezra Collective win best jazz act
• Annatoria is the best gospel act

Nella Rose is presenting the best R&B/soul act and says she just landed from Qatar yesterday.

Speaking on the red carpet about the category she's presenting, she says it "means a lot to me" because "my friend rate is nominated" - referring to singer Raye, who is a nominee for the best female act and video of the year categories.

"She’s been through so much in the industry and is finally getting her break," the media personality tells the BBC.

"If she wins, I'm gonna scream."

Does she have a message for Raye?

"Listen Raye - if you need a back-up dancer!"

Jack Gray and Lola Schroer
Reporting from the red carpet

Double nominee Nia Archives stopped by to catch up with us a little earlier - tonight she's up for best female act as well as best electronic/ dance act.

She released her debut album Silence is Loud in April and says "it’s been really amazing to fuse all the different genres on top of jungle".

"I make quite selfish music for myself so it’s nice that people can relate to it."

As for having the awards in Newcastle, the artist from Leeds says it's great to see more representation in the north of England.

"There’s a lot of art and culture in regional cities, so I think it’s amazing to bring it to Newcastle.

Hopefully up and coming artists from Newcastle will be inspired by it."

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent

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We're just a few minutes away from tonight's Mobos starting, but in case you need it, here's a brief history of the awards show.

It was set up in 1996, as Britpop hit its peak and the Spice Girls burst onto the pop scene. Black music was thriving but, with a few exceptions - like Soul II Soul and Gabrielle - it remained on the fringes of the charts.

“UK record labels didn’t know how to market black music,” Radio 2’s Trevor Nelson later observed.

The Mobos were the solution.

Celebrating all music of black origin, the awards show was founded by Kanya King (who we caught up with a bit earlier this evening). She re-mortgaged her house to pay for the first ceremony.

Since then, it’s championed artists like Goldie, Ms Dynamite, Craig David, Tinie Tempah, Stormzy, Skepta and Dave – often recognising talent before it hit the mainstream.

It’s never had an easy ride. Support is still sporadic. The ceremony disappeared for two years in 2018 and 2019, just as grime and drill became commercial juggernauts.

But it’s been back since 2020, and tonight’s ceremony will again highlight artists right on the cusp of crossing over.

Keep an eye out for gritty Manchester rapper Nemzzz (up for best male artist) and Northern Ireland’s Jordan Adetunji, who had a breakout hit with his single Kehlani last summer.

R&B singer Nao, who is set to perform tonight at the awards, has been speaking to the BBC on the red carpet.

"This isn't my first rodeo," she says - she was a nominee for the best R&B/soul act in the 2022 Mobo Awards.

Speaking about the awards tonight, she says: "Honestly, I'm just looking forward to the celebration of UK music and black music as well."

The singer adds that she feels that "finally" the UK is "celebrating the amazing R&B artists that are out there".

More stars including Victor Ray, Amber Gill, Ayra Starr, Dami Hope and host Indiyah Polack have made dazzling entrances on the Mobo red carpet, setting the stage for an unforgettable night.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Mobo's founder, Kanya King, has been talking to the BBC about Mobo Unsung - a competition that she says receives "thousands" of entries and that results in 10 finalists receiving support in navigating the music industry.

"They get to make their mark on the world with their music and creativity," she says.

Image source, PA Media

Mobo Awards founder Kanya King announced last year she had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer and later confirmed that the Mobo's 2025 charity partner was Prostate Cancer UK.

Sharing the news on Instagram, the Mobos says Kanya's "set her sights" on being at the next awards "to celebrate the achievements of our community".

"Cancer is something that has personally impacted my life, making this partnership with Prostate Cancer UK deeply meaningful," she told the BBC.

"We've always strived to use our platform to inspire change and address issues affecting our community.

"This collaboration is an opportunity to amplify a lifesaving message.”

Newcomer LeoStayTrill, whose song Pink Lemonade is nominated for record of the year, says that made the song in his bedroom.

"I didn't over think it. I was just being myself," he tells the BBC from the red carpet, adding that being nominated feels "crazy".

"I'm feeling the moment and I'm very grateful," he says.

LeoStayTrill is also the youngest performer today, but, says he isn't feeling the pressure: "It doesn't affect me. There's no pressure, pressure makes diamonds!"

Lola Schroer
Reporting from the Mobos

Image source, PA Media

This year, the Mobo Awards spotlight the unstoppable rise of female African artists, with Nigeria’s Ayra Starr and Tems and South Africa’s Tyla featuring in the Best African Music Act and Best International Act categories.

Ayra Starr's sound is rooted in Lagos, but her second album The Year I Turned 21 shows her global vision. The album sizzles with sun-kissed Afrobeats, capturing the musings of a 22-year-old travelling the world. She’s headlined a world tour, earned a Grammy nomination and became the first Afrobeats artist to perform on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage last year.

Songs to listen to: Rush, Commas, Jazzy's Song

Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer Tems became the first female African artist to hit one billion Spotify streams. Her song Love Me Jeje, which samples a line from Seyi Sodimu's 1997 classic, was a smash hit of 2024.

Songs to listen to: Love Me Jeje, Essence, Me & U, MOVE

Tyla is a global pop sensation. The South African singer skyrocketed to fame with her viral hit Water, which dominated charts, sparked a viral TikTok dance and bagged a Grammy. A year on and I’m still singing it.

She has been vocal about the need to recognise diversity within African music: "African music is so diverse. It's more than just Afrobeats." At just 23, she has brought Amapiano—an evolving South African genre that fuses house, jazz, and kwaito—into the spotlight.

Songs to listen to: Water, Push 2 Start, Getting Late

Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Starr is on the red carpet, chatting about her second album, The Year I turned 21.

"Making that album felt very natural for me," she says. "I wanted to give myself to the music. All my experiences, I try to sing about it."

The 22-year-old singer, who is nominated in the best African music act and best international act categories, adds that it's amazing to know that people can relate to her music.

Speaking about her first-ever album, 19 & Dangerous, Starr says she made the album as a rebellious teenager, adding that the music had "dark vibes" to it, but right now she wants to make music that makes her feel good and "sexy".

Newcastle artist Victor Ray says it's incredible to be invited to the Mobos in his home town, admitting he "came from [his] mum's yard" and is "home".

"I've sang on these streets for years before I even had the courage to pursue this thing," he tells the BBC's Lola Schroer.

"To be invited here, in my home, means that little voice I didn't think could break through has made its way here. So I'm happy," he says.

Image source, Getty Images

Kanya King, a British entrepreneur and the founder of tonight's awards show, tells us how the Mobos is a "great catalyst for a bigger purpose".

Speaking about the Mobos Fringe - which is five days of summits, performances and workshops across Newcastle - King explains how the Mobos has successfully used the entertainment scene to "talk about black achievement and culture".

"So the black community can feel inspired and that they're not invisible," she tells the BBC's Lola Schroer.

Riyah Collins
BBC Newsbeat

Image source, Getty Images

Love Islander Indiyah Polack returns as host for this year's Mobo Awards, which she'll present alongside comedian Eddie Kadi - who has just arrived at the awards show.

Indiyah also hosted the 2024 awards in Sheffield and says she's "so excited to be back".

“We're going to bring a show like no other before to Newcastle, celebrating the richness of black music and culture."

1Xtra presenter Eddie added that it was an "honour" to be presenting the awards.

"We're teaming up to bring the vibes," he said ahead of tonight's show.

Artists and performers have begun making their way down the red carpet at this year's Mobo Awards - which you can also follow by pressing watch live at the top of this page.

Here's a look at who's appeared on the red carpet so far:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

The BBC's Lola Schroer has just been chatting with the rock duo Nova Twins, who are performing at the Mobos Awards show tonight.

They say they're "ecstatic" to be here having grown up watching the Mobos and are proud to be "pushing rock and alternative music onto mainstream platforms".

"We want to inspire the younger generation, they can do any genre of music they want to and we feel so proud to be able to show that," Georgia South, one half of the duo says.

Riyah Collins
BBC Newsbeat

Image source, Getty Images

We've just had a chance to catch up with Bashy on the red carpet in Newcastle, but he's been teaching fans about patience after a 15-year break from music to focus on acting under his real name - Ashley Thomas.

But he made it worth the wait, with his second album Being Poor Is Expensive being released over the summer.

“It’s one of the best albums to come out, in my opinion, the last half a decade,” says 1Xtra DJ Kenny Allstar.

“I know some people will be like, ‘that's a strong statement’, but this man went from taking a break out of music for many years, going into the world of film and seamlessly coming back into the game and putting out a project like that.

“It’s unreal.”

Bashy’s been confirmed as one of tonight’s performers and he’s also up for three awards: best male act, album of the year and best hip hop act.