KINGSTON, Jamaica – Vybz Kartel accepted the MOBO Impact Award at the 2025 staging of the Music of Black Origin (MOBO), which was held in New Castle, England on Tuesday night.

The lanky deejay who had earlier performed his RIAA gold-certified single Fever during Queen of the Dancehall, Spice’s set, thanked his family, his manager Linton “TJ’ White, his fans in England, the MOBO organisation and his fiancé Sidem during his acceptance speech.

“First, I gotta say God is the greatest. Because think about this, (I) got locked up and did 13 years in prison. Meanwhile, I’m doing 13 years in prison, I’m diagnosed with Graves disease. So I’m fighting to be free and I’m fighting my illness. I’m fighting to keep my family together; this is my son here, Likkle Vybz,” said Kartel to thunderous applause from the audience.

Kartel continued, “I’m fighting to keep the fans pleased with good music. And look how God great. Nominated for a Grammy Award with an album (that) got released from prison, got engaged to my fiancé who is from England, and now I’m here. I walked the red carpet at the MOBOs. So now, that taught me to believe in three things now more than ever. Faith, change and forgiveness.”

Spice presented Kartel with the honorary MOBO impact award, which in recent years has been awarded to pop trio Sugababes and boxer Frank Bruno.

In recent years the MOBOs has broadened its categories to recognise the contributions made by Black artistes to the U.K’s rock scene and its club culture.

The ceremony honours homegrown and international artistes  from diverse scenes including hip-hop, R&B, grime, jazz, and Afrobeats.

Earlier on Tuesday, Shenseea was named winner in the Best Caribbean Music Act category, beating Valiant, Skillibeng, Popcaan, Valiant and YG Marley. This is Shenseea’s second MOBO Award, having won the now defunct Best Reggae Act award in 2021.

First held in 1996, the MOBOs were founded by Kanya King and Andy Ruffell to provide representation for Black artistes at a dedicated ceremony. The awards were held every year up until 2017. Following a brief hiatus, they returned in 2021 and 2022 but took a fallow year in 2023 and resumed once again in 2024.

The ceremony was hosted by comedian Eddie Kadi and Love Island star Indiyah Polack and broadcast live on YouTube. Highlights from the ceremony will air on BBC One on Friday, February 21.