British Black music
British Black music refers to music of the African diaspora, or music derived from the African diaspora which has been produced in Great Britain regardless of the ethnic background of the musicians.
Awards
Since 1996, the annual British MOBO awards ceremony has honoured achievements in "music of black origin".[1]
Genres

Organisations and events
- African Society of Literati, Musicians, and Artists (established 1897)
- Music Of Black Origin Awards (MOBOs) (established 1996)
- Urban Music Seminar (1997 – 2004)
Notable contributors to British black music
16th century
- John Blanke (fl. 1501–1511)
18th century
- George Bridgetower (1778 – 1860)
- Joseph Emidy (c. 1775 – 1835)
- Ignatius Sancho (c. 1729 – 1780)
19th century
- Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 – 1912)
- Fisk Jubilee Singers
20th century
- Beverley Knight (born 1973)
- Billy Ocean (born 1950)
- Gabrielle (born 1969)
- Jaki Graham (born 1956)
- Joan Armatrading (born 1950)
- Junior Giscombe (born 1957)
- Ken "Snakehips" Johnson (1914 – 1941)
- Labi Siffre (born 1945)
- Lynden David Hall (1974 – 2006)
- Maxi Priest (born 1961)
- Mica Paris (born 1969)
- Omar (born 1968)
- Sade (born 1959)
- Shaznay Lewis (born 1975)
- Shola Ama (born 1979)
- Sonique (born 1965)
- Amazulu (band)
- Aswad
- Cleopatra
- D'Influence
- Five Star
- A Guy Called Gerald
- Heatwave (band)
- The Real Thing (British band)
- Imagination
- Loose Ends (band)
- Musical Youth
- Skin (Skunk Anansie)
- Soul II Soul
- Southern Syncopated Orchestra
- The Specials
Early 21st century
- AJ Tracey (born 1994)
- Arlo Parks (born 2000)
- Dave (born 1998)
- Dizzee Rascal (born 1984)
- FKA Twigs (born 1988)
- Ghetts (born 1984)
- J Hus (born 1996)
- Jammer (born 1982)
- Jim Legxacy (born 2000)
- JME (born 1985)
- Jorja Smith (born 1997)
- Kano (born 1985)
- Kele Okereke (born 1981)
- Labrinth (born 1989)
- Lady Leshurr (born 1987)
- Leigh-Anne Pinnock (born 1991)
- Lethal Bizzle (born 1984)
- Little Simz (born 1994)
- Michael Kiwanuka (born 1987)
- MNEK (born 1994)
- Ms Banks (born 1994)
- Raleigh Ritchie (born 1990)
- Sampha (born 1988)
- Skepta (born 1982)
- Stormzy (born 1993)
- Tinie Tempah (born 1988)
- Wiley (born 1979)
- Wretch 32 (born 1985)
- Rizzle Kicks
- Krept & Konan
- So Solid Crew
See also
Further reading
- Cotgrove, Mark (2009). From Jazz Funk & Fusion to Acid Jazz. Milton Keynes: AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1438973609.
- Dabydeen, David; John Gilmore; Cecily Jones (2008). The Oxford Companion to Black British History. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199238941.
- de Koningh, Michael; Griffiths, Marc (2003). Tighten up!: The History of Reggae in the UK. London: Sanctuary.
- Fryer, Peter (1984). Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain. London: Pluto Press.
- McGrady, Richard (1991). Music and Musicians in Early Nineteenth Century Cornwall: World of Joseph Emidy - Slave, Violinist and Composer. Exeter: University of Exeter Press.
- Oliver, Paul (1990). Black Music in Britain: Essays on the Afro-Asian Contribution to Popular Music. Buckingham: Open University Press.
- Owusu, Kwesi (2000). Black British Culture and Society: A Text Reader. London: Comedia.
- Portelli, Tony (2006). The Music Industry Raw: Pirates, Clubs, House and Garage. Milton Keynes: AuthorHouse.
- Smith, Steve Alexander (2009). British Black Gospel: The Foundations of This Vibrant UK Sound. Oxford: Monarch Books. ISBN 978-1854248961.
- Simons Andrew. Black British Swing: The African Diaspora's Contribution to England's Own Jazz of the 1930s and 1940s. Northway Publications.
- Schwartz, Roberta Freund (2007). How Britain Got the Blues: The Transmission and Reception of American Blues Style in the United Kingdom. Aldershot: Ashgate.
References
- ↑ Horan, Tom (25 September 2003). "MUSIC: How Ms MOBO proved them wrong". The Daily Telegraph. London.
- ↑ Vinti, Mike (January 29, 2016). "Beyond Grime: Why You Need to be Paying Attention to Britain's Other Rap Scenes". Vice. Retrieved March 1, 2021.