BATMAN WINS MOBO AWARD

Batman Samini from Ghana was named Best African act at the MOBO Awards which took place 20 September 2006 at the Royal Albert Hall.

Last year for the first time an Africa category was introduced whose winner was Youssou N'Dour (the other nominees were Femi Kuti, 2 Face, Baaba Maal, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Yvonne Chaka Chaka).

In 2005 there was also a World Music category which was won by Puerto Rico's Daddy Yankee, with some of the other nominated acts in that category being from Africa too, namely Amadou & Mariam, Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabaté and Zap Mama. (See our feature on the MOBO 2005 awards).

The World Music category has now been scrapped - maybe a move to highlight the Africa category which has been revamped quite a bit, too: while last year the more traditional names still prevailed, this year it was all about the sound of the African youth.