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MOBO award honour for War Child charity
23 Sep 2009Charity War Child is to be honoured at the Mobo music awards for its work in helping children in war-torn regions of the world.
The organisation, founded in 1993 by British film-makers Bill Leeson and David Wilson, has helped thousands of vulnerable youngsters affected by war and will be given this year's BeMobo award.
The event, which takes place in Glasgow on Wednesday September 30, will also feature the first performance of the charity's first single, I Got Soul, featuring an array of the UK's emerging music stars - including Tinchy Stryder - collectively known as the Young Soul Rebels.
Stryder, 22, said he was delighted to perform the track live at the Mobo Awards with N-Dubz, Chipmunk, VV Brown, Ironik, Bashy, Frankmusic, Mpho, McLean, Kid British and Egypt.
He said: "It's our first time performing together and singing the track, so I'm excited. I'm going to take it in my stride.
"As soon as I was asked to be involved with War Child, I immediately said yes as I believe forcing children to fight in wars with no choice is completely wrong. It's a good cause because it's all positive, there's nothing negative about it."
Written by the artists themselves, proceeds from the track, released on Monday October 19 through Island Records, will go directly to War Child, which operates in countries across the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
"Everyone wrote their own part in the studio at different times - I wrote my own little four bars. Pixie Lott started it off, and then everyone did their own parts," said Stryder.
Now in its fourth year, to highlight the work of grass roots, community and educational projects, the BeMobo award was created to acknowledge social responsibility.
Kanya King, founder of the Mobos, said: "War Child, as an organisation, mirrors Mobo's own strong belief in music as a powerful force of positivity, and their commendable work on credible music projects, such as Young Soul Rebels, with the aim of inspiring change is something that Mobo is proud to recognise by honouring them with this year's BeMobo Award."
Mark Waddington, War Child's chief executive, said: "War Child is delighted to be receiving the BeMobo Award in recognition of our work with children in the world's harshest war zones, and for our work with music in the UK. Highlighting the unacceptable impact of war on children has never been more important.
"The likes of Tinchy Stryder, N-Dubz, Chipmunk and Ironik coming together to say something about child soldiers underlines the positive influence these artists can have on young people in Britain."
