June 6, 2026,
Guru in a Bottle 
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I was deeply saddened to learn that Kanya King CBE, founder and chief executive of the MOBO Awards passed away a few days ago at the age of 57 following a courageous battle with cancer.
Back in 2006, Kanya and I worked closely together on a question that would shape the future of the MOBOs. Western Union, the long-standing sponsor, was coming to the end of its commitment, and the awards needed a new partner to secure their future before a global television and radio audience. Drawing on my network and my work as a sponsorship practitioner, I was able to bring the City of Glasgow on board in a five-year, multi-million-pound deal. That partnership did more than keep the lights on. It moved the MOBOs from their long London home to a new city and went on to deliver the most successful MOBO Awards show on record.
Along the way I had the pleasure of co-producing the MOBO show at Wembley in 2007, working with the Outside Organisation alongside our co-presenters Mel B and Rev Run of Run DMC, before the Glasgow deal was finally sealed.
Kanya was a risk-taker. Like me, she believed passionately that people from diverse communities didn’t always get the recognition they deserved, and nowhere was that truer than in the music industry. She spent her life changing that.
When Barack Obama was elected as the first person of colour to become President of the United States, Kanya asked me to write and direct a short film to mark that historic moment at an event held in the Houses of Parliament https://lnkd.in/eDSHtyB3 I’m proud that she appeared in the short film herself, speaking about what inspired her and about how Barack had given us both reason to believe in hope.
The photograph I’ve shared here was taken by me on 26 September 2008, outside the MOBO office just around the corner from King’s Cross Station, London. Looking at it now, I remember exactly the energy she carried into every room.
We lost touch over the years, but I never lost my admiration for her as one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with.
The world is a darker place without Kanya, but her legacy will live on forever and for making accessible the Music of Black Origin.
Rest in peace, Kanya.
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