Kampala, Uganda | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Davido and Rema were the standout winners at the Trace Awards in Kigali on October 21, 2023. Davido claimed the title of Best Male and shared the Best Collaboration award with South Africa’s Musa Keys for their song “Unavailable.” Rema won in the Global African Artist and Song of the Year categories with “Calm Down.” Burna Boy’s “Love Damini” received the Best Album award, and Vivian Chidid was recognized as Best Female.
Other winners included Diamond Platnumz for Best Artist – East Africa and Rwandan artist Bruce Melodie as Best Rwandan Artist. Didi B won Best Artist Africa – Francophone, while KS Bloom and Tam Sir from Ivory Coast were awarded in the Best Gospel Artist and Best Producer categories, respectively. Lisandro Cuxi was named Best Artist Africa – Lusophone, and Nigeria’s 2Face received the Lifetime Achievement award.
Rutshelle Guillance was named Best Artist – Caribbean, Goulam won Best Artist – Indian Ocean, and Dystinct received the Best Artist – North Africa award. Yemi Alade’s “Baddie” was awarded Best Video.
Mr Eazi, a music maker and entrepreneur, received a special ChangeMarker award for his philanthropic work.
In other categories, British rapper Central Cee was recognized as Best Artist – UK, Tayc won the trophy for Best Artist – France & Belgium, Ludmilla was awarded Best Artist – Brazil, and Michael Brun from Haiti was named Best DJ.
The Trace Awards featured artists from more than thirty countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and Europe, competing in 26 award categories.
Olivier Laouchez, Chairman and Co-Founder of Trace, commended the power and creativity of African and African-origin artists, highlighting their global impact and recognition.
The ceremony, hosted by Afrobeat legend D’Banj and Angolan supermodel Maria Borges, showcased performances and collaborations among over 50 stars representing various music genres and nationalities, blending Afrobeat with Bongo Flava, Coupé Decalé, Soukouss, Rap, Rai, Gospel, and more.
Trace, a global music powerhouse and Afro-music tastemaker, organized the first-ever Trace Awards to celebrate its 20th anniversary and the influence of African and Afro-inspired music. The event recognized the diversity and excellence of Afro-centric music in various genres.
The Trace Awards were broadcast live on October 21, 2023, and a 90-minute highlights show was scheduled for later broadcast on Trace channels and partner TV stations and platforms. The event was presented by Visit Rwanda and Martell.
Here’s the full list of winners for the 2023 Trace Awards.
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)
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 (DRC)
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 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
Best Collaboration
- “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 Newcomer
- Azawi (Uganda)
- Krys M (Cameroon)
- Libianca (Cameroon)
- Nissi (Nigeria)
- Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
- Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
- Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast) – 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)
- Tam Sir (Ivory Coast) – WINNER
Best Gospel Artist
- 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 (Ghana)
- 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 – Anglophone
- 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 – Rwanda
- Ariel Wayz (Rwanda)
- Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) – WINNER
- Bwiza (Rwanda)
- Chriss Eazy (Rwanda)
- Kenny Sol (Rwanda)
Best Artist – East Africa
- Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – WINNER
- Zuchu (Tanzania)
- Khaligraph (Kenya)
- Nadia Mukani (Kenya)
- Azawi (Uganda)
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
- Mik’l (Reunion)
- Sega el (Reunion)
- Terrell Elymoor (Mayotte)
Best Artist – Brazil
- Djonga (Brazil)
- Iza (Brazil)
- Leo Santana (Brazil)
- Ludmilla (Brazil) – WINNER
- Luedji Luna (Brazil)
Best Artist – North Africa
- Amira Zouhair (Morocco)
- Artmasta (Tunisia)
- Dystinct (Morocco) – WINNER
- El Grande Toto (Morocco)
- Kader Japonais (Algeria)
- Raja Meziane (Algeria)
