Another MOBO Award.
In 2025, Ayra Starr broke a record by being the first female to win the “Best African Act” from MOBO Awards after 16 years. Then on March 26, 2026, she won the Best International Act from the MOBO Awards, as MOBO celebrates 30 years.
Of course, other prominent artists were present, a lot went home with outstanding awards.
Those Ayra Starr Was Up Against
The competition wasn’t easy. Ayra Starr went up against some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Cardi B was in that category. So was Tyla, the South African singer who’s been everywhere lately. Gunna, Kehlani, Vybz Kartel, Mariah the Scientist, Clipse, Leon Thomas, and Moliy were all nominated too.
These aren’t small names. Cardi B has multiple platinum albums. Tyla won a Grammy this year. Kehlani has been making music at the highest level for years. Vybz Kartel is a Caribbean music legend.
And Ayra Starr beat all of them. She was the only Nigerian nominated in the Best International Act category, which makes the win even more impressive.
The Night in Manchester at the MOBO Awards
The 2026 MOBO Awards took place at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. It was the first time Manchester hosted the ceremony.
The event was celebrating 30 years of MOBO, 30 years of recognizing Black music across hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeats, grime, gospel, and more.
Eve and Eddie Kadi hosted the show. Performances came from Olivia Dean, FLO, and Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage, who performed her unreleased song “Energy.” There was also a special Grime 25 medley featuring Wiley, Chip, Scorcher, D Double E, and Nolay.
Other Nigerian Winners at the MOBO Award
Ayra Starr wasn’t the only Nigerian who won that night. Wizkid took home Best African Music Act, beating Davido, Rema, Shallipopi, Tiwa Savage, and Adekunle Gold.
This brings Wizkid’s total MOBO wins to seven, the most of any African artist ever.
Nigerian producer P2J also won Best Producer for his work across Afrobeats, R&B, and pop. His production credits include songs for international stars, and this award recognizes how Nigerian producers are shaping global music.
Interestingly, Ayra Starr was nominated for Best African Music Act too. She lost to Wizkid, but that’s not a bad loss. She walked away with the bigger international prize.
What Makes Ayra Starr Different
Let’s talk about “Rush.” That 2022 song changed everything for Ayra Starr. It became the most-streamed music video by a Nigerian female artist. It earned her a Grammy nomination. And it’s still the song that introduced millions of people worldwide to her music.
Also in 2024, she got another Grammy nomination for “Rush.” Then in 2026, she got a third Grammy nomination for “Gimme Dat” featuring Wizkid.
Her partnership with Mavin Records and Roc Nation (Jay-Z’s management company) has given her the infrastructure to compete at the highest level.
Other MOBO Award Big Winners
British singer Olivia Dean had the biggest night overall. She won three awards: Best Female Act, Album of the Year for “The Art of Loving,” and Song of the Year for “Man I Need.”
Pharrell Williams received the MOBO Global Songwriter Award. Slick Rick got the Lifetime Achievement Award. Both felt right for an anniversary edition celebrating 30 years.
Central Cee won Best Hip-Hop Act. Raye won Video of the Year. FLO won Best R&B/Soul Act. The night was packed with talent from different genres, all celebrating Black music and culture.
What This Means for African Music
Nigerian artists have been dominating the MOBO Awards for years, and each win keeps adding to the story. Ayra Starr winning Best International Act, Wizkid with seven MOBO Awards and P2J winning Best Producer.
African music, especially Afrobeats, is no longer a niche sound. It’s everywhere, radio, clubs, festivals, streaming platforms. For Ayra Starr, she made history as the first African artist to win Best International Act, while representing Nigerian music on a global stage.
