Six Jamaican Artists Nominated For ‘Best Caribbean Music Act’ At 2025 MOBO Awards

Popcaan, Shenseea, Skillibeng, Spice, Valiant, and YG Marley will vie for the ‘Best Caribbean Music Act’ title at the 2025 MOBO Awards, which celebrates music of black origin in the United Kingdom.

British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir has also earned a nomination in the Best Performance in a TV Show/Film category. The Trinidadian-heritage actor is recognized for his critically acclaimed portrayal of reggae icon Bob Marley in the biopic “Bob Marley: One Love.”

The nominations were announced on Wednesday morning.

This is Shenseea, Popcaan, and Skillibeng’s third nomination in the ‘Best Caribbean Music Act’ category, while Spice and Valiant are enjoying their second nod. YG Marley stands out as the sole first-time nominee in the category. Skillibeng had claimed the inaugural award in 2022, with Valiant taking the title in 2023.

Shenseea and Popcaan have previously won in the now-discontinued ‘Best Reggae Act’ category.

MOBO Founder Kanya King expressed her enthusiasm about this year’s nominees, stating, “Each and every time we unveil the MOBO Awards nominations, I am taken aback by the sheer amount of incredible talent we have in the UK. It inspires us all to continue pushing the industry to be more inclusive of a greater variety of Black music and culture.”

“The music coming out of the UK this past year has been some of the best we have had in years. These distinct, uncompromising voices – across different genres from R&B and Soul to Grime, Hip-Hop to Jazz and Alternative – are not just soundtracks for our days. They provide healing and reflection, and also escapism in times of need. A huge congratulations to all our nominees across music, film and television, and entertainment. We look forward to welcoming you in Newcastle!” she continued.

The 2025 MOBO Awards will mark a significant milestone by hosting its first-ever event in Newcastle at the Utilita Arena on February 18, 2025.