The winners for the inaugural Trace Awards in Africa were finally been unveiled, in what was a groundbreaking live event that celebrated the creativity and influence of African and Afro-inspired music and artists.
Artists hailing from over 30 countries across Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and Europe competed in 22 award categories spanning Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, and more.
Nigerian Afrobeat artists dominated with over 40 nominations. Notable names included Burna Boy, Davido, WizKid, and Tiwa Savage. South African artists such as K.O, Musa Keys, Blxckie, and Pabi Cooper also earned nominations across categories.
2023 Trace Awards: Here is the full list of winners
Here is the full list of 2023 Trace Awards winners:
BEST MALE
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Davido (Nigeria) – WINNER
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Didi B (Ivory Coast)
- K.O (South Africa)
- Rema (Nigeria)
BEST FEMALE
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Josey (Ivory Coast)
- Nadia Mukami (Kenya)
- Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
- Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
- Viviane Chidid (Senegal) – WINNER
SONG OF THE YEAR
- “BKBN” – Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
- “People” – Libianca (Cameroon)
- “Suavemente” – Soolking (France)
- “Encre” – Emma’a (Gabon)
- “Sugarcane” – Camidoh (Ghana)
- “Last Last” – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- “Rush” – Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- “Calm Down” – Rema (Nigeria) – WINNER
- “Peru” – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (UK)
- “Sete” – K.O (South Africa)
- “Cough” – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
- “MORTEL 06” – Innoss’B (Ivory Coast)
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
- “2 Sugar” – Wizkid (Nigeria) feat. Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- “Baddie” – Yemi Alade (Nigeria) – WINNER
- “Kpaflotage” – Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
- “Loaded” – Tiwa Savage(Nigeria) & Asake (Nigeria)
- “Ronda” – Blxckie (South Africa)
- “Tombolo” – Kalash (Martinique)
- Yatapita” – Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
BEST NEWCOMER (SPONSORED BY MAISON MARTELL)
- Azawi (Uganda)
- Krys M (Cameroon)
- Libianca (Cameroon)
- Nissi (Nigeria)
- Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
- Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
- Roselyne Layo (Ivory Coast) – WINNER
BEST COLLABORATION (SPONSORED BY MAISON MARTELL)
- “Many Ways” – BNXN (Nigeria) with Wizkid (Nigeria)
- “Mine” – Show Dem Camp (Nigeria) with Oxlade (Nigeria)
- “Peru” – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (UK)
- “Second Sermon” – Black Sherif (Ghana) with Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- “Sete” – K.O (South Africa) with Young Stunna (South Africa), Blxckie (South Africa)
- “Stamina” – Tiwa Savage with Ayra Starr (Nigeria) & Young Jonn (Nigeria)
- “Trumpet” – Olamide (Nigeria) with Ckay (Nigeria)
- “Unavailable” – Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (South Africa) – WINNER
BEST DJ
- Danni Gato (Cape Verde)
- DJ BDK (Ivory Coast)
- DJ Illans (France)
- DJ Spinall (Nigeria)
- Michael Brun (Haiti) – WINNER
- Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
BEST PRODUCER
- DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
- Juls (Ghana)
- Kabza de Small (South Africa)
- Kel-P (Nigeria)
- Tamsir (Ivory Coast) – WINNER
BEST GOSPEL ARTISTS
- Benjamin Dube (South Africa)
- Janet Otieno (Kenya)
- KS Bloom (Ivory Coast) – WINNER
- Levixone (Uganda)
- Moses Bliss (Nigeria)
BEST LIVE
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Fally Ipupa (DRC) – WINNER
- Musa Keys (South Africa)
- The Compozers (Nigeria)
- Wizkid (Nigeria)
- Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
BEST DANCER
- Robot Boii (South Africa) – WINNER
- Tayc (France)
- Uganda Ghetto Kids (Uganda)
- Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
- Zuchu (Tanzania)
BEST ARTIST AFRICA – ANGOLPHONE
- Asake (Nigeria) – WINNER
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Black Sherif (Ghana)
- Davido (Nigeria)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
BEST ARTIST AFRICA – FRANCOPHONE
- Didi B (Ivory Coast) – WINNER
- Emma’a (Gabon)
- Fally Ipupa (DRC)
- KO-C (Cameroon)
- Locko (Cameroon)
- Serge Beynaud (Ivory Coast)
- Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
BEST ARTIST AFRICA – LUSOPHONE
- Gerilson Insrael (Angola)
- Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde) – WINNER
- Perola (Angola)
- Plutonio (Mozambique)
- Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
BEST ARTIST – RUWANDA
- Ariel Wayz (Rwanda)
- Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) – WINNER
- Bwiza (Rwanda)
- Chriss Eazy (Rwanda)
- Kenny Sol (Rwanda)
BEST ARTIST – FRANCE & BELGIUM
- Aya Nakamura (France)
- Booba (France)
- Nihno (France)
- Ronisia (France)
- Soolking (France)
- Tayc (France) – WINNER
BEST ARTIST – UK
- Central Cee (UK) – WINNER
- Headie One (UK)
- Ms Banks (UK)
- Raye (UK)
- Stormzy (UK)
BEST ARTIST – THE CARIBBEAN
- Admiral T (Guadeloupe)
- Bamby (French Guiana)
- Kalash (Martinique)
- Maureen (Martinique)
- Popcaan (Jamaica)
- Princess Lover (Martinique)
- Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti) – WINNER
- Shenseea (Jamaica)
BEST ARTIST – INDIAN OCEAN
- Donovan BTS (Mauritius)
- GaEi (Madagascar)
- Goulam (Comoros) – WINNER
- Mikl (Reunion)
- Sega el (Reunion)
- Terell Elymoor (Mayotte)
BEST ARTIST – NORTH AFRICA
- Amira Zouhair (Morocco)
- Artmasta (Tunisia)
- Dystinct (Morocco) – WINNER
- El Grande Toto (Morocco)
- Kader Japonais (Algeria)
- Raja Meziane (Algeria)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- “DNK”- Aya Nakamura (France)
- “Love Damini” – Burna Boy (Nigeria) – WINNER
- “Maverick” – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
- “More Love, Less Ego” – Wizkid (Nigeria)
- “Timeless” – Davido (Nigeria)
- “Work of Art” – Asake (Nigeria)