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Fans jeer as Leona fails to turn up while Estelle cancels a gig to appear
Amar Singh16.10.08
LONDON artists were today celebrating a breakthrough in urban music after Estelle and Leona Lewis scooped four of the top prizes at the Mobo awards.
But while soul singer Estelle was the toast of the evening after cancelling a concert in America to be at the ceremony, Lewis was booed by fans for failing to attend. Estelle, 28, beat Lewis, the former X Factor winner, to win best UK female, before collecting the best song award for American Boy. Lewis, 23, picked up best album for the multi-million-selling Spirit as well as best video for Bleeding Love.
The jeering began at the Wembley Arena as Hackney-born Lewis gave an acceptance speech by video for her best album award. She said: "Thank you so much, I'm so sorry I can't be here with you tonight ... I'm there in spirit with you all." The booing got so loud that the ceremony's co-host, former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, had to appeal to the crowd saying: "Stop giving Leona Lewis a hard time, you lot. It's not her fault she's not here."
The frosty response for the Simon Cowell protégé, who this year became the first British woman to reach No 1 in the US pop charts for two decades, shocked the singer Sinitta who accepted the best video award on Lewis's behalf.
She could barely be heard as she said: "I remember when Simon (Cowell) and I first discovered her and she goes from strength to strength ... You should be proud of her." Estelle, who grew up in Hammersmith, made a point of saying she made an effort to be present. "I'm supposed to be on tour, but I'm here. I had to be here," she said.
East London rapper Dizzee Rascal was voted best UK male for the second year running. Rapper Chipmunk, 18, from Enfield, was best UK newcomer. Saxophonist YolanDa Brown received the jazz prize.
Kanya King, founder and chief executive of Mobo, said: "I'm particularly delighted that British talent through artists such as Estelle and Leona receive the recognition they justly deserve."
Reader views (7)
precisely - i have argued this point for years. The fact that Eminem and Beastie Boyz were so successful in rap, considered a "black" artform, proves that music does not and should not have a colour. Its outrageous and ridiculous that we can categorise what we hear by the pigmentation of the coverings of our bones!!!!!!!
- Patrick, Singapore
Well Im glad she got booed, isn't she a cheat anyway.
What goes around comes around
- Ryan, Hampstead
But Jimbo, why are a particular ethnicity desperately trying to grab and claim successful musicians such as J-Kay and Simply Red as their own? The last time I checked music was supposed to be free of colour, ethnicity, race or sex. Duffy has been inspired by Dusty Springfield, who in turn, was inspired by black music. However, The Beatles were also inspired by black music but that doesn't make Oasis eligible for a MOBO does it?
- Jc, London
Its the Music of Black Origin Awards - not a black only awards ceremony. MOBOs have been given to artists such as Simply Red and Jamiroquai. Tim Westwood won the award last night for best DJ. Last time I checked, he was a white man. Duffy was among the nominees last night. All you angry right wingers need to get your facts straight
- Jimbo, Edmonton
Well said Jane. Would suggest that if there was a MOWO, Music of White Origin there would be hell to play.
- Peter Gibson, Romford, England
Ahh yes, the black only awards, the most racist TV programming in the UK.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
It's high time this blatently racist awards ceremony ended. Unless of course we have a WOBO for the on-immigrant community. Every year this makes my blood boil.
- Jane Bewick, London
