After securing four nominations in as many years, deejay Popcaan finally won the MOBO Award for Best Reggae Act. The event took place on Wednesday night at the Leeds First Direct Arena, in west England.

Popcaan, who was not present, won over Chronixx, London-based dancehall artiste Stylo G, singjay Protoje and Omi, whose Cheerleader topped the British national chart in 2015.

Popcaan is making waves locally with songs including Way Up and Weed is My Best Friend. He has a strong following among dancehall fans in the United Kingdom, thanks to several well-received songs.

In 2010, he had an underground hit there with Clarks, done with his mentor, Vybz Kartel and Gaza Slim. Last year, he scored his first and only British top 10 hit when he teamed with British singer Melissa Steel on Kisses For Breakfast.

Popcaan recently collaborated with producer Jamie XX on the track, I Know There’s Gonna Be Good Times, which features rapper Young Thug.

British singer FK Twigs (real name Tahliah Debrett Barnett) whose father is Jamaican, won the MOBO for Best Video award with Pendulum. Hip hop duo Krept and Konan, which comprises Casyo Johnson and Karl Wilson (son of singer Delroy Wilson) won Best Hip Hop Act and Best Album for The Long Way Home.

The MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin) ‘recognises artistes of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music’.

Kevin Jackson