The nominees for the 2025 Trace Awards are finally here, and the excitement is building! The ceremony is set to take place on February 26 in Zanzibar, and it’s going to be a big night for Afro music.
These awards celebrate the richness and diversity of Afro music, featuring genres like Afrobeat, hip-hop, dancehall, amapiano, and more. Artists from over 30 countries across Africa, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond are competing in 24 categories.
Leading the nominations this year are big names like South Africa’s Tyla and Tyler ICU, and Nigeria’s Asake, Rema, and Burna Boy. One of the hottest categories is Song of the Year. Some tracks that made waves this year include Tyla’s catchy Jump, Tyler ICU’s Mnike, and Asake & Travis Scott’s Active. Tems’ Love Me Jeje and Burna Boy’s Higher are also in the mix, alongside Rema & Shallipopi’s Benin Boys and Diamond Platnumz’s Komasawa.
When it comes to Album of the Year, Nigerian stars are leading the way. Burna Boy’s I Told Them, Asake’s Lungu Boy, and Rema’s Heis are strong contenders. Ghana’s Amaarae, King Promise, and Stonebwoy are also making waves, with Ivory Coast’s Josey and Togo’s Toofan adding to the competition.
The Best Collaboration category is packed with fire partnerships. Fans are loving the Tshwala Bam remix by Titom & Yuppe featuring Burna Boy, as well as Asake & Wizkid’s MMS. Other hits like Kocee & Patoranking’s Credit Alert and Odumodublvck & Black Sherif’s Woto Woto Seasoning are also in the running.
Visuals are a big deal too. The Best Music Video category includes works like Meji Alabi’s stunning take on Rema’s DND and Nabil Elderkin’s visuals for Tyla’s Jump. Videos by TG Omori (Twe Twe) and Director Folex (Nani Remix) also stand out.
For the DJs, it’s a showdown between South Africa’s Tyler ICU, Uncle Waffles, and DJ Maphorisa, and Nigeria’s DJ Tunez, DJ Neptune, and DJ Spinall. The Best Hip Hop Artist race is heating up too, with Nasty C, Didi B, Odumodublvck, Sarkodie, and Young Lunya going head-to-head.
Finally, in the Best Global African Artist category, Tyla, Burna Boy, Asake, and Rema are competing for the crown. Meanwhile, the regional categories shine a spotlight on top artists like East Africa’s Diamond Platnumz and Zuchu, West Africa’s Adekunle Gold and Seyi Vibez, and Southern Africa’s Tyla and Titom & Yuppe.
Fans worldwide can get in on the action by voting for their favorite artists starting January 2, 2025.
Here’s the full list of nominees:
Global Awards
Song of the Year
- Tyla – ‘Jump’ (South Africa)
- Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
- Titom & Yuppe – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (South Africa)
- Tamsir x Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
- Asake & Travis Scott – ‘Active’ (Nigeria)
- Tems – ‘Love Me Jeje’ (Nigeria)
- Burna Boy – ‘Higher’ (Nigeria)
- Rema & Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
- Diamond Platnumz – ‘Komasawa’ (Tanzania)
Album of the Year
- Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
- Asake – Lungu Boy (Nigeria)
- Rema – Heis (Nigeria)
- Josey – Vibration Universelle (Ivory Coast)
- Amaarae – Fountain Baby (Ghana)
- King Promise – True To Self (Ghana)
- Stonebwoy – 5th Dimension (Ghana)
- Toofan – Stamina (Togo)
Best Collaboration
- Titom & Yuppe & Burna Boy – ‘Tshwala Bam’ (Remix) (South Africa/Nigeria)
- Neyna & MC Acondize – ‘Nu Ka Sta Para’ (Cape Verde)
- Kocee ft. Patoranking – ‘Credit Alert’ (Cameroon/Nigeria)
- Asake & Wizkid – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)
- Rema & Shallipopi – ‘Benin Boys’ (Nigeria)
- Odumodublvck & Black Sherif – ‘Woto Woto Seasoning’ (Ghana)
- Tamsir & Team Paiya – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
Best Music Video
- Meji Alabi – Rema ‘DND’ (Nigeria)
- TG Omori – Kizz Daniel & Davido ‘Twe Twe’ (Nigeria)
- Director Folex – Zuchu feat Innoss’ B ‘Nani’ (Remix) (Tanzania/DRC)
- Nabil Elderkin – Tyla ‘Jump’ (South Africa)
- Kmane – Ayra Starr ‘Commas’ (Nigeria)
- Seoute Emmanuel – Toofan ‘C Pas Normal’ (Togo)
- Ach’B – Innoss’ B ‘Sete’ (DRC)
- Edgar Esteves – Asake & Wizkid ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)
Best Dancer
- Ikorodu Boys (Nigeria)
- Dancegod Lloyd (Ghana)
- Incredible Zigi (Ghana)
- Kamo Mphela (South Africa)
- Telminho (Angola)
- Makhadzi (South Africa)
- Ordinateur (Ivory Coast)
- Issac Kalonji (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Best DJ
- Tyler ICU – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles – ‘Wadibusa’ (South Africa)
- DJ Tunez – ‘Apala Disco Remix’ (Nigeria)
- DJ Nelasta – ‘Eros’ (Angola)
- DJ Spinall ft. Tyla & Omah Lay – ‘One Call’ (Nigeria)
- DJ Neptune ft. Qing Madi – ‘Honest’ (Nigeria)
- DJ Moh Green – ‘Kelele’ (Algeria)
- DJ Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
- Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)
Best Hip Hop Artist (sponsored by Hot 97)
- Nasty C (South Africa), Didi B (Ivory Coast)
- Odumodublvck (Nigeria), Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
- Sarkodie (Ghana)
- Young Lunya (Tanzania)
- Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
Pan-African Awards
Best Global African Artist
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Tyler ICU (South Africa)
- Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Asake (Nigeria/USA)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Best Male Artist
- Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
- Fally Ipupa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Wizkid (Nigeria)
- Stonebwoy (Ghana)
Best Female Artist
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Makhadzi (South Africa)
- Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
- Josey (Ivory Coast)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Tems (Nigeria)
- Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best Newcomer (sponsored by Johnnie Walker)
- Nkosazana Daughter (South Africa)
- Himra (Ivory Coast)
- Sabrina (Cameroon)
- Mia Guissé (Senegal)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- Qing Madi (Nigeria)
- Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
Best Live Performance
- Fally Ipupa (DRC)
- Ayra Starr – 21: The World Tour (Nigeria)
- Burna Boy – I Told Them (Nigeria)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Yemi Alade – African Rebel Tour (Nigeria)
- Didi B – Mojo Trone Tour (Ivory Coast)
- Diamond Platnumz – Wasafi Festival (Tanzania)
Best Producer
- Kelvin Momo – ‘Sewe’ (South Africa)
- P.Priime – ‘MMS’ (Nigeria)
- DJ Maphorisa – ‘Mnike’ (South Africa)
- Tam Sir – ‘Coup du Marteau’ (Ivory Coast)
- Sarz – ‘Happiness’ (Nigeria)
- Jae 5 – ‘Perfect Combi’ (Ghana)
- KDDO – ‘For Certain’ (Party Next Door) (Nigeria)
- London – ‘Ozeba’ (Nigeria)
- Kabza De Small – ‘Imithandazo’ (South Africa)
Best Gospel Artist
- Spirit of Praise 10 (South Africa)
- KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
- Mercy Chinwo (Nigeria)
- Ada Ehi (Nigeria)
- Bella Kombo (Tanzania)
- Israël Mbonyi (Rwanda)
Regional Awards
Best Artist Eastern Africa
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Bien (Kenya)
- Joshua Baraka (Uganda)
- Harmonize (Tanzania)
- Rophnan (Ethiopia)
- Marioo (Tanzania)
- Zuchu (Tanzania)
- Nandy (Tanzania)
Best Artist (Western Africa Anglophone)
- Seyi Vibez (Nigeria)
- Adekunle Gold (Nigeria)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
- Tems (Nigeria)
- Chike (Nigeria)
- Simi (Nigeria)
- KiDi (Ghana)
Best Artist (Southern Africa)
- Titom & Yuppe (South Africa)
- De Mthuda (South Africa)
- Inkabi Zezwe (South Africa)
- Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
- Tyler ICU (South Africa)
Best Artist Francophone Africa
- Didi B (Ivory Coast)
- Josey (Ivory Coast)
- Tidiane Mario (Congo)
- Gaz Mawete (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- Wally B. Seck (Senegal)
- PhillBill (Cameroon)
Best Artist (Lusophone Africa)
- Calema (São Tomé and Príncipe)
- Landrick (Angola)
- Chelsea Dinorath (Angola)
- Twenty Fingers (Mozambique)
- Mr. Bow (Mozambique)
- Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
Best Artist (Tanzania)
- Mbosso (Zanzibar)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Zuchu (Zanzibar)
- Marioo (Tanzania)
- Nandy (Tanzania)
- Alikiba (Tanzania)
- Jux (Tanzania)
- Harmonize (Tanzania)
International and Diaspora Awards
Best Artist (Europe)
- Central Cee (United Kingdom)
- Kalash (France/Martinique)
- Darkoo (United Kingdom)
- Joe Dwet File (France/Haiti)
- Jungeli (France)
- Franglish (France)
- Aya Nakamura (France/Mali)
Best Artist (Brazil)
- Racionais MC’s (Brazil)
- MC IG (Brazil)
- Péricles (Brazil)
- Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
- Ludmilla (Brazil)
- Duquesa (Brazil)
Best Artist (Caribbean)
- Venssy (French Guiana)
- Mathieu White (Guadeloupe)
- Meryl (Martinique)
- Nesly (French Guiana)
- Shenseea (Jamaica)
- Kenny Haiti (Haiti)
Best Artist (Indian Ocean)
- Barth (Reunion)
- Goulam (Comoros)
- PLL (Reunion)
- Kalipsxau (Reunion)
- Léa Churros (Reunion)
- Jamily Jeanne (Mauritius)
