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Glasgow Is Not 'Too White' To Host MOBO Awards

Organisers hit out at criticisms...

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The founder of The MOBO Awards have hit back at claims that tonight's host city, Glasgow, is too “white” to host the ceremony.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, former panellist Paul MacKenzie questioned the choice of venue saying that Glasgow “is not a multicultural city, it’s a very white city.”

He continued: “I was in Glasgow two months ago I was playing spot the black person there, it is not a multicultural town, and for an event which is initially a black event with a complete multicultural umbrella it really belongs in a multicultural town.”   

However, founder of the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards, Kanya King defended the decision to host the bash at the Glasgow SECC tonight.

She said: "Glasgow is full of great music. Glasgow is sexy. We have got all the coolest stars coming here. There is real passion for music here.

"We are going to show them sexy, we are going to show them cool, we are going to show them passion."

Laura McCrum who runs the website Urban Scot strongly disagreed with MacKenzie's claims too, saying: “I was born in Scotland and grew up here, and will forever love Scotland, however yeah it’s a fact I was the only black kid in my class as I was growing up.

“However, I did find many other young people who loved music of black origin, who were into the same things as me, from a variety of backgrounds, it’s not because they were black.”

High profile acts including Eminem, Jay-Z, Dizzee Rascal, Lady GaGa, Beyonce and Akon will not appear at the event despite being nominated.
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  • don't have to be black to like music by a black artist.

    ~ by Moo[DBM] 9/30/2009

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  • I thought it was music of black 'origin' not music by 'black people' you twerp!!!

    ~ by neil_hill_1 9/30/2009

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  • i would love to know what would happen if there was a music awards for music of 'white' origin. outrage you say.. never!!!

    ~ by sausage chops 9/30/2009

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  • Imagine if someone had said Birmingham just isn't sexy enough and is too black. People would be going mental. Why not for this? it's blatant racism.

    ~ by Scott 9/30/2009

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  • so everyone wants their own version of equality, it's ok to differentiate between music of black origin but not white? is this right? is this the way we want to progress a multi cultural society, most of these people who have been interviewed cannot even even speak English properly. this is not a black or white issue it is a national pride issue black or white. Making Britain Great is not about black or white it is about respect for the country and all in it regardless or colour.

    ~ by cossie 10/2/2009

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