The MOBO Festival has graced the North East for the first time, bringing a global audience of almost one billion people to the city in a staggering event that celebrated black music and culture in the region, with organisers confident that it “will definitely leave a legacy” in the region.
The MOBO awards, which honour music of Black origin, was accompanied with a Fringe Festival filled with performances, workshops and various lessons that MOBO founder Kanya King has described as “a five-day cultural celebration with a vision to champion local talent, inspire the next generation, and give a platform to Black music, arts, and culture in the North East”.
Fom street performances to youth projects, organisers have said that the festival looked to provide a space for people to “explore, learn and celebrate black culture”,
With local schools, choirs and other organisations playing an instrumental role, community was at the heart of the festival, and the people of Newcastle certainly embraced the experience, with King adding that “the response was overwhelmingly positive, it was clear that there was a real appetite for this kind of celebration in the city.”
The MOBO’s coming to Newcastle marked a significant event for the city’s gifted, but generally neglected Black creatives, giving musicians and artists of the region the spotlight that they deserved, with Executive Producer at The Glasshouse, Lucy Scott, emphasising that the event “made a statement about the depth of talent that we have here.”
“Black culture is part of the fabric of the city, but it is unfortunately overlooked and there is a lack of space and opportunity for black artists, creatives and businesses”, she added.
A total of 58 different cultural activities were delivered across the five days, and according to a Newcastle City Council report analysing the impact of hosting the MOBO’s, the estimated social wellbeing benefits for the 8,121 participants reached close to £600,000.
The Newcastle atmosphere throughout the festival was electric and those involved have noticed the welcoming North Eastern voices. Siobhan Elouise, who was part of the ‘MOBO Unsung’ programme and performed as part of the festival, described the experience as ‘powerful and unforgettable.’
‘It made me feel a beautiful sense of pride, unity and support. Newcastle really showed up – not just in numbers, but in spirit”.
“it felt like we were breaking boundaries and redefining what these spaces could represent – not just for music, but for culture and community”.
As the city reflects on an event that brought global attention and garnered local pride, the intention for the future is clear, with the MOBO Team explaining that their hope is that the festival “sparks something lasting – a legacy where cultural celebration and inclusion become part of the city’s DNA”.