MOBOs founder Kanya King has died aged 57 following a battle with colon cancer.
The businesswoman announced she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had just months to live in December 2024.
In a statement, the MOBOs organisation said: ‘It is with immeasurable sorrow that the MOBO Organisation announces the passing of its Founder and CEO, Kanya King CBE.
‘Kanya passed away peacefully on 3 June 2026 after a courageous and characteristically determined battle with colon cancer.
‘She was surrounded by her family, close friends and love. The music world has lost one of its most fearless champions.’
A statement from King’s family added: ‘We are devastated to share the news that our beloved Kanya – our mother, our sister, our heart – passed away peacefully on the 3rd June 2026, surrounded by her family and close friends after a brave and dignified battle with colon cancer.
‘She faced every moment of her illness as she faced every moment of her life: with courage, with faith, with humour, and with an absolute refusal to be diminished.
MOBOs founder Kanya King has died aged 57 following a battle with colon cancer (pictured in February 2025)
‘She founded MOBO – music of black origin and in doing she gave an entire generation of Black British artists the right to be seen, to be celebrated, and to be heard on their own terms.
‘Kanya leaves behind thirty years of music of joy, of resistance, of proof – proof that one woman, with vision, nerve, and love, can move an entire culture.
‘We are broken. We are grateful. We are so profoundly, endlessly proud to have been her family. Kanya King CBE. Gone too soon. Never, ever forgotten.
The statement from the MOBOs detailed King’s 30 year dedication to the organisation, and said ‘the 2026 MOBO Awards, held during the Organisation’s landmark 30th anniversary year, will be dedicated entirely to her memory. Every artist, every moment and every note will carry her legacy’.
King launched the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards whilst working as a TV researcher in 1996, remortgaging her home to launch the organisation which would be her lifelong work.
‘She was a single mother from a Kilburn council estate who was told that Black music was too niche, that there was no market and that the industry was not interested,’ read the statement.
‘Instead of arguing, she built. Six weeks later, the first MOBO Awards was broadcast to the nation, and nothing was ever the same again.
‘What Kanya created was never simply an awards ceremony. It was an act of cultural justice. MOBO did not just celebrate Black music; it legitimised it, amplified it, and demonstrated its commercial and creative power to a world that had too often chosen not to see it.
In a statement, the MOBOs organisation said: ‘It is with immeasurable sorrow that the MOBO Organisation announces the passing of its Founder and CEO, Kanya King CBE
Actor Idris Elba and King are pictured at the MOBO Awards nominations in 2014
‘She built a platform that has reached hundreds of millions of people around the world. She was awarded a CBE and received an Ivors Academy Honour in 2025, accepting it, characteristically, in the middle of what she described as ‘a difficult week health-wise’, yet still managing to inspire every person in the room.
‘She never stopped. She never asked for permission. She never accepted that the word ‘no’ was final.
‘When she stood on the MOBO stage in Newcastle in February 2025, just months after her diagnosis, she told the audience: ‘I never allowed someone to define my limits. Not in life. Not in business. And I’m certainly not going to have that happen now.’
‘That was Kanya King. Right to the very end.’
The post on Instagram received an outpouring of love from King’s friends and colleagues with singer Craig David commenting: ‘Kanya, your legacy will live on forever through ever single one of us you touched with your beautiful heart. We love you.’
The post on Instagram received an outpouring of love from Kanya’s friends and colleagues with singer Craig David commenting: ‘Kanya, your legacy will live on forever’
Singer and BGT star Alesha Dixon wrote: ‘Devastated to hear this news! Gone too soon!’
‘Forever grateful and in awe of you and your fight! One of the strongeest people I’ve ever known! You are a true example to us all! Will love you forever! Thank you for everything! Rest well my friend.’
The Instagram account for band UB40 added: ‘Incredibly sad news. Rest in Peace Kanya – The foundations laid and legacy you have left is beyond remarkable! Big love.’
TV star Judi Love wrote: ‘Queen built a whole legacy for us. Rest well.’
In February 2025 King reduced the MOBOs audience to tears as she made a speech at the 2025 music awards ceremony shortly after revealing her terminal cancer diagnosis.
Taking to the stage to address the crowds, she admitted she didn’t know if she’d make it to the ceremony as she discussed her health struggles.
‘There was a time where I didn’t think I’d make it to this stage, but I’ve never allowed someone else to define my limits,’ she said as the audience wiped away their tears.
Kanye poses with So Solid Crew at the 18th anniversary MOBO Awards in 2014
She went on to admit that she ‘wouldn’t be here’ today if she had ignored the symptoms which led to her bowel cancer diagnosis.
‘My story isn’t over, this is a new chapter for my voice and my platform and my fight about something just as vital as music – our health,’ she continued.
‘Let me be real with you, if I had ignored caught the signs and symptoms I wouldn’t be here now, and in my cancer journey I want to educate others.’
Looking to the future, Ms King said she ‘intended’ to be present at the milestone 30th anniversary of the MOBO Awards in 2026 as she finished her emotional speech.
She was then surprised on stage and given the Paving The Way Award for her dedicated work in founding the MOBOs.
King revealed at the time of her diagnosis that she was given the heartbreaking news in September 2024 after months of struggling with fatigue and abdominal pain.
Although she had noticed changes in her bowel movements, these had been off and on and she didn’t suspect the symptom was a sign of something sinister.
Naomi Campbell and Kanya King at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in 2022
‘I assumed it was the overactive thyroid — and I did get my bowel back on track. There were so many things my symptoms could have been. I never once saw blood,’ she said.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2024 that she went to the GP after a salad left her feeling so ill she had to crawl back into bed to sleep it off.
The doctor ran several tests for deficiencies that are associated with tiredness, such a iron and vitamin D — which all came back clear.
But knowing there was something wrong she went back again and a doctor suspected it could be gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu or food poisoning.
Eventually she did an initial bowel cancer test which came back negative, before she finally took a faecal immunochemical test (FIT).
The test, which is 99 per cent accurate at detecting traces of blood, came back positive.
Ms King had a colonoscopy and then a scan, where doctors found a tumour.
Then, in September 2024, she finally received the devastating news that she had stage 4 bowel cancer that had spread to her liver and lymph nodes and was told it was terminal.
