MOBO Awards come to Leeds

Some of the biggest stars in music are heading to Leeds for the annual MOBO Awards.

Stormzy, Craig David and Emeli Sande will hit the red carpet at the First Direct Arena for the event, that's been running for over 20 years. It's the second time it's hit Leeds.

Stormzy will look to cap off a whirlwind 12 months. The south London musician leads the field with five nominations including best male and best album for his debut release Gang Signs & Prayer.

It comes off the back of quite the year for the 24-year-old who has performed at the Brits, received a Mercury nomination for his acclaimed debut and even been photographed with Prince Harry.

Stormzy, real name Michael Omari, is also shortlisted for best grime star as well as best song and best video at the 22nd Mobos in Leeds.

He will compete with J Hus and Mercury Prize-winner Sampha for best male and best album while actor and DJ Idris Elba is to be honoured with a Paving The Way gong for his "achievements in the arts and contribution to British culture''.

A paving stone will be embedded at a location in London, where the Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom star grew up.

He wrote on Instagram: "As someone who once faced homelessness, I know how important it is to have access to something better, to feel inspired and reach for your dreams.

"I'm blessed to have this chance to lay a paving stone in a place that I hold so dear and leave a legacy for future generations. Thank you Mobo for finally giving me that opportunity.''

Elba added in a statement: "I feel incredibly humbled to receive this honour. I have always felt a need to shine a light and pay a lasting tribute to the place that helped shape me in Hackney. Thank you Mobo for finally giving me that opportunity with Paving The Way. ''

All recipients of the Paving The Way Award pay tribute to the area which influenced them in their careers by laying a commemorative paving stone.

The ex-Luther star will be presented with a stone, which will be inscribed with his own words and embedded at a place of his choosing.

Previous recipients of the award include Wiley, Ms Dynamite, Sir Lenny Henry and Leeds boxer Nicola Adams.

Other stars expected to attend the event include rapper Wiley, shortlisted for best grime act, model Jourdan Dunn, and comedian Michael Dapaah - the man behind Big Shaq's Mans Not Hot

Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council said: "We are delighted to welcome the MOBO Awards back to Leeds following a very successful event in 2015.

"It is hugely important that as we bid for European Capital Culture we find every opportunity to showcase the cultural diversity of the city on an international stage and MOBO Awards with its support for emerging artists and world wide reputation for championing music of black origin is a fantastic platform for this."

The awards are also hoping to help a woman from Leeds who's fighting for her life.

Mel Farrell-Rhodes, 41, who is originally from Morley and now lives in Manchester, has been fighting Aplastic Anaemia – a bone marrow disease – since she was eight-years-old.

Last month she received the devastating news from doctors that it had developed into Myelodysplasia Anaemia, a rare form of cancer in the bone marrow, and her best chance of survival is to have a stem cell transplant.

Mel’s family and the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust have launched a campaign urging more adults to donate stem cells in the hope of finding Mel a donor, and students from Leeds Beckett have produced a video in support of the appeal.

The #Match4Mel campaign is being promoted by international organisation MOBO.