Knight, 25, from Wolverhampton, has established herself with hits such as Made It Back and The Greatest Day, and gained critical acclaim for her latest album, Prodigal Sista.

Lifetime achievement award: Tina Turner performs at the show

Spice Girl Mel G and Fugees rapper Wyclef Jean hosted the awards ceremony, which honours the UK's best in dance, hip-hop, R 'n' B, gospel and jazz.

Veteran star Tina Turner - who is 60 next month - was among those performing at the event at London's Royal Albert Hall.

She was given a lifetime achievement award by Lionel Ritchie, who called her "a very classic lady. She's simply the best".

Turner told the cheering crowd: "Black music has finally been recognised. I've been in the business since 1960 and to my knowledge black music has never been rewarded in this way."

The BBC's Catherine Marston: One of the most important events in the music industry

Other acts who took to the stage included singer Des'ree, boy band Another Level, club act Phats & Small, and South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Accepting her best album award, Knight said: "Wow. I look around here and I am seeing a lot of United States visitors tonight, and it's wonderful to see you.

"I would like the UK record companies to notice and see that they could have the same calibre of artists if they would just believe in UK talent."

Kele Le Roc was also a double winner, scooping the best newcomer award as well as best single for My Love.

Radio 1 winner

Another double winner: Kele Le Roc picks up a Mobo

Meanwhile, Shanks & Bigfoot beat big names Fatboy Slim, Phats & Small and Armand Van Helden to win the best dance act Mobo, following the success of their debut single, Sweet Like Chocolate.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Trevor Nelson won in the best DJ category, beating colleague Tim Westwood - who was shot in London earlier this year. R 'n' B specialist Nelson is seen as one of the station's rising stars, and also has his own show on MTV in the UK.

Another award went to drum 'n' bass DJ Grooverider - who also appears on Radio 1.

The awards were founded in 1995 by jazz and soul singer Kanya King, who wanted to see an award ceremony for black-inspired genres that would be the equal of the Brit Awards.

Prize presenters included Jerry Springer, Lulu, Chris Eubank, Eternal and Spice Girl Victoria Adams, who joked: "I have left my baby at home, and he's babysitting Brooklyn."

The quip was about husband David Beckham - but the Manchester United footballer was in the audience.

The Mobos will be televised on Channel 4 on Thursday evening at 2230 BST.

The main 1999 Mobo winners included:

• Best newcomer: Kele Le Roc
• Best hip hop act: Roots Manuva
• Best international hip hop act: Jay-Z
• Best album: Beverley Knight
• Best dance act: Shanks & Bigfoot
• Best drum and bass act: Grooverider
• Best international act: Lauryn Hill
• Best video: TLC for No Scrubs
• Best producer: Rodney Jerkins
• Best DJ: Trevor Nelson
• Best international single: My Name Is... by Eminem
• Best single: My Love by Kele Le Roc
• Best international R 'n' B act: Destiny's Child
• Best R 'n' B act: Beverley Knight