Pop Awards: Prizewinners

The Mobo Awards

Radio 1

Bumping phat grooves, grinding R'n'B and smooth soul for B-boys and girls are an excuse for exacting some bodily pleasures, and one more unique contortion - an award ceremony that aims to raise the low profile of music of black origin.

are yet another symptom of the diseased Brit Awards-grabbing newspaper headlines provided by the likes of Jarvis Cocker and Liam Gallagher, with awards stuck in places others can't reach. Mobo does more than take a pop.

Pauline Henry, lead singer with Scots band the Chimes, set up the awards a year ago as a reproach to the Brits because she felt they ignored a large section of popular music. "They're a disgrace," she said at the launch. "They grossly misrepresent the record-buying public's taste. will be a major new ceremony featuring categories for the likes of rap, reggae, soul, gospel and house. But they won't be restricted to black musicians."

The awards unwittingly highlight the difficulties of using a generic title such as "black origin" (or "Brits") which, while including a number of different genres, obviously can't include them all. " provide the missing link," argues the managing director, Andy Ruffell. "Mobo is increasing its profile ... the whole spectrum of UK music is now being represented on a national level."

On the flip side of the political tone is the music. Tune in to Radio 1 and immerse yourself in sounds with all the colours of the rainbow. Jungle, reggae, hip hop, dipping into R'n'B and dance - the list reads like the best of British, rangeing from the top of the pops, Roni Size & Reprazent, fresh from winning the Mercury Music Award, to the low-down and spaced-out junglist vibes of LTJ Bukem. It will even go back in time, with bands that have taken styles such as reggae and funk into the Nineties, and, with Finley Quaye and US3, taken themselves to the forefront of such reinvention. They stop at old school rappers KRS to face off against new kids such as Coolio. The only worry is that most of the nominees should win prizes.

"Radio 1 should be part of this year's Mobo awards, because of the investment the station has made in cutting-edge specialist black music shows like Tim Westwood, Trevor Nelson and Chris Goldfinger," says Andy Parfitt of Radio 1.

Radio 1 don't need to hear the Mobo message; luckily, on Monday night we will.

Radio 1, 10.30pm - 1am: `Mobo Awards Live'; televised on Carlton, 13 November.