Kanya King , one of the UK music industry’s most loved and respected figures, has died at the age of 57. The pioneering founder of the MOBO Awards and avid champion of Black British music culture has passed away after a two-year battle with colon cancer. Her death was announced by the MOBO Organisation, which said she passed away peacefully on June 3, 2026, “surrounded by family and close friends” after a “courageous and characteristically determined” fight against the disease. In 2024, Kanya had revealed that she had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, and she used her platform to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and screening. Best known for founding the MOBO Awards in 1996, she created a groundbreaking platform celebrating Black music and culture here in the UK. At a time when many Black artists struggled for recognition at mainstream award ceremonies, she helped to shine a spotlight on genres including R&B, hip-hop, grime, garage, soul and D&B.…