JAMELIA - JAZZ FANS IN MOBO PROTEST

JAZZ FANS IN MOBO PROTEST

Furious jazz fans are staging a protest outside tonight's (20SEP06) Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards after the genre was sensationally scrapped from the prize categories. The peaceful public protest will see hundreds line the streets outside London's Royal Albert Hall later today, where the ceremony is being held. Trumpeter/vocalist ABRAM WILSON, who has organised the rally, will lead a ten-piece band outside the venue as stars including JAMELIA, LEMAR, LeTOYA LUCKETT, SWAY and ROOTS MANUVA arrive. BEYONCE KNOWLES, who leads the nominations with mentions in four categories, is also rumoured to be attending. A statement from the protestors insists, "The removal of the jazz category undermines the original spirit of the MOBO awards, and ignores the place of jazz in the heritage of black music and its influence on all other forms of popular music. "Despite several complaints from the jazz community, MOBO has failed to reinstate the award."