JAZZ artists staged a musical protest outside the Albert Hall last night about their exclusion from Britain’s biggest black music awards ceremony.

The decision by the Music of Black Origin (Mobo) Awards to dispense with the jazz category for the first time in its 11-year history prompted outrage from musicians who believe that jazz is fundamental to black music.

Courtney Pine, the saxophonist who won the jazz award in the ceremony’s inaugural year, led a chorus of protest demanding that the award be reinstated. “The Mobos was the only thing that recognised jazz in that way,” he said.

“Jazz was the stepping stone for rock’n’roll, rhythm and blues — all popular music. Folks have got to know that we have been excluded.”

Stars attending the ceremony, including Corinne Bailey Rae and Jamelia, were greeted on the red carpet by a ten-piece band. Jazzmen, including Soweto Kinch, who won the Mobo jazz award in 2003, and Abram Wilson, took part in a traditional New Orleans jam session.

The awards organisers said originally that jazz had been dropped because there were too few good acts to make a shortlist. They issued a revised statement yesterday, saying that they had to cut categories to make the ceremony the correct length for live broadcast on BBC Three. It was prerecorded last year. “It is not always possible to carry all the categories that we would wish,” a spokesman said. “Categories are constantly under review and sometimes rested for them to return in future shows.”

American artists dominated the list of winners last night, winning five categories including Best Group, Best Song and Best Video, while British acts won Best Hip-Hop, Best Gospel and Best DJ. The biggest surprise was a victory in the Best Hip-Hop category for Akala, who emerged from the shadow of his more established older sister, Ms Dynamite. The British performer, who is a relative newcomer to the music scene, beat hip-hop giants including Busta Rhymes and KanYe West.

Other British winners included Nu Life, the Midlands-based gospel group, in the Best Gospel category. Corinne Bailey Rae was named Best UK Female while Lemar was Best UK Male. Black Eyed Peas were named best group, beating the sole British act on the shortlist, the Streets. Beyoncé won Best International Female and her single Déjà Vu, recorded with Jay-Z, won both Best Song and Best Video.

Rihanna, a Barbados-born singer, was one of two Caribbean acts to take home an award. She won the Best R&B category, while Sean Paul, the Jamaican dancehall star, won Best Reggae.

MOBO WINNERS

Best Group
Black Eyed Peas

Best Song
Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
— Déjà Vu

Best UK Female
Corinne Bailey Rae

Best UK Male
Lemar

Best UK Newcomer
Corinne Bailey Rae

Best Video
Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
— Déjà Vu

Best International Female
Beyoncé

Best International Male
Jay-Z

Best Hip Hop
Akala

Best R&B
Rihanna

Best Reggae
Sean Paul

Best Gospel
Nu Life

Best African Act
Batman Samini

Best DJ
Steve Sutherland