FOR the first time in eight years, a female artiste has been nominated in Best Reggae Act category of the United Kingdom’s (UK) MOBO Awards. Dancehall act Spice is up against her male counterparts Alkaline, Popcaan, Kranium, and Protoje.

To date, three female reggae artistes have been nominated in the category since the award’s inception in 1996. British reggae singer Sylvia Tella and Jamaica’s Etana were nominated in 1997 and 2008, respectively.

This is the fifth nomination for Popcaan, who is last year’s winner. He has been making inroads on the UK dancehall scene with hits including Ova Dweet, We Still a Win and Weed is My Best Friend.

Both Protoje and Alkaline have earned their second nomination. Alkaline, whose Champion Boy and Block and Delete have been major hits on the UK dancehall scene this year, was first nominated in 2014.

Protoje earned his first nod last year. A remix of his hit single Who Knows, featuring Chronixx, enjoyed mainstream attention in the UK a few months ago after being distributed by Warner Bros.

This is the first nomination for New York-based, Jamaica-born Kranium.

2016 has been a good year in the UK for Spice. Apart from having sold-out club dates, she garnered attention with So Mi Like It and Indicator.

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

Billed as the ‘biggest celebration of urban talent’ in various musical genres such as soul, reggae, hip hop, grime and Afrobeats, the 21st staging of the awards is scheduled to take place in Glasgow, on November 4.