Beyonce outshines competition at Mobo awards

Beyonce Knowles was the big winner at last night's Mobo (Music of Black Origin) Awards, scooping up three top music prizes. The US R'n'B singer beat off strong competition from Mary J Blige, Nelly Furtado, Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys to be named best international female. The star, who was not present at the Royal Albert Hall ceremony, also won awards for best song and best video for Deja Vu, the single performed with her fiance Jay-Z. Meanwhile, Leeds-born soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae represented the best of Britain's home-grown talent, receiving two awards for best UK female and best UK newcomer. Bailey Rae, whose self-titled debut album went straight to the top of the UK album charts on its release, proved her worth during a jazz-influenced performance at yesterday's ceremony. Former Fame Academy winner Lemar, who scooped the prize for best UK male, also performed his new single, It's Not That Easy. Despite the title of his song, the star doesn't seem to have encountered too much trouble establishing a long-term music career unlike many reality TV talent hopefuls, having won the award two years in a row. Black Eyed Peas also had something to celebrate last night after winning the Mobo prize for best group. But one of the artist's most pleased with their success was Ms Dynamite's younger brother Akala, who won the award for best hip-hop act. Following in the footsteps of his sister, who won three Mobo awards in 2002, Akala insisted that there was no rivalry between the siblings. "Every time she won an award I felt like I'd won an award as well and I think she feels the same for me," he said in comments reported by the BBC. "There's no rivalry or competition at all. She sat next to me tonight and my mother was there too. I'm sure she's really proud." Highlights of the Mobo Awards, shown live on BBC 3 last night, will be screened on BBC 1 this Friday.