Rema and Davido emerged as the big winners at the 2023 Trace Awards, a prestigious event celebrating African and Afro-influenced music. The star-studded awards ceremony took place in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 21, and marked the inaugural edition of the Trace Awards, established by Trace, a global TV and multimedia platform. The event’s primary purpose is to honor and acknowledge the exceptional talents of African and Afro-influenced musicians.
Rema, the Nigerian sensation, clinched the coveted “Song of the Year” award for his international hit “Calm Down.” This song garnered immense recognition and even reached the remarkable position of No. 3 on the esteemed Billboard Hot 100 chart. Rema’s accolades didn’t end there; he also shared the title of “Best Global African Artist” with Nomcebo, signifying his profound influence on the global music scene.
Davido, another prominent Nigerian artist, secured two distinguished awards at the Trace Awards. He was declared the “Best Male Artist,” showcasing his remarkable contributions to the industry. Additionally, Davido was recognized for the “Best Collaboration” for his exceptional work on the track “Unavailable,” a collaborative effort with Musa Keys from South Africa.
The acclaimed “Album of the Year” award went to Burna Boy, an acclaimed artist hailing from Nigeria. His album, “Love Damini,” impressed both critics and fans, solidifying his position in the music world.
The Trace Awards was an extraordinary event featuring thrilling performances by nearly 50 artists from across Africa and the Afro-inspired music realm. The stage came alive with incredible acts from artists like Davido, Yemi Alade, Mr. Eazi, and Diamond Platnumz, who left the audience in awe with their mesmerizing talents and exceptional showmanship.
Olivier Laouchez, the chairman and co-founder of Trace, expressed his admiration for the incredible artists and their significant contributions, stating, “Tonight has been a triumphant demonstration of the power and creativity of African and African-origin artists. All the nominees and performers at the Trace Awards underlined exactly why African contemporary music has become a global phenomenon.”
In addition to the competitive award categories, the 2023 Trace Awards presented honors in three special categories, where nominees were not disclosed in advance. The recipients of these prestigious awards were as follows: Nigeria’s 2Face received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his remarkable career, Mr. Eazi, also from Nigeria, was recognized as a “Change Maker” for his philanthropic endeavors, and the coveted “Best Global African Artist” award was shared by Rema and Nomcebo, acknowledging their outstanding global influence and artistry.
Trace Awards 2023: Winners And Nominees List
Here’s a comprehensive list of the winners and nominees from the 2023 Trace Awards:
| Category | Nominee | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Album of the Year | – DNK – Aya Nakamura (France) – Love Damini – Burna Boy (Nigeria) – Maverick – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria) – More Love, Less Ego – Wizkid (Nigeria) – Timeless – Davido (Nigeria) – Work of Art – Asake (Nigeria) | Love Damini – Burna Boy (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) – “Peru” – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (UK) – “Sete” – K.O (South Africa) – “Cough” – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria) – “MORTEL 06” – Innoss’B (DRC) | “Calm Down” – Rema (Nigeria) |
| Best Music Video | – “2 Sugar” – Wizkid (Nigeria) feat. Ayra Starr (Nigeria) – “Baddie” – Yemi Alade (Nigeria) – “Kpaflotage” – Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast) – “Loaded” – Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) & Asake (Nigeria) – “Ronda” – Blxckie (South Africa) – “Tombolo” – Kalash (Martinique) – “Yatapita” – Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) | “Baddie” – Yemi Alade (Nigeria) |
| Best Male | – Asake (Nigeria) – Burna Boy (Nigeria) – Davido (Nigeria) – Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – Didi B (Ivory Coast) – K.O (South Africa) – Rema (Nigeria) | Davido (Nigeria) |
| Best Female | – Ayra Starr (Nigeria) – Josey (Ivory Coast) – Nadia Mukami (Kenya) – Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde) – Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) – Viviane Chidid (Senegal) | Viviane Chidid (Senegal) |
| 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) | “Unavailable” – Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (South Africa) |
| Best Newcomer | – Azawi (Uganda) – Krys M (Cameroon) – Libianca (Cameroon) – Nissi (Nigeria) – Odumodublvck (Nigeria) – Pabi Cooper (South Africa) – Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast) | Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast) |
| Best DJ | – Danni Gato (Cape Verde) – DJ BDK (Ivory Coast) – DJ Illans (France) – DJ Spinall (Nigeria) – Michael Brun (Haiti) – Uncle Waffles (Swaziland) | Michael Brun (Haiti) |
| Best Producer | – DJ Maphorisa (South Africa) – Juls (Ghana) – Kabza de Small (South Africa) – Kel-P (Nigeria) – Tam Sir (Ivory Coast) | Tam Sir (Ivory Coast) |
| Best Gospel Artist | – Benjamin Dube (South Africa) – Janet Otieno (Kenya) – KS Bloom (Ivory Coast) – Levixone (Uganda) – Moses Bliss (Nigeria) | KS Bloom (Ivory Coast) |
| Best Live | – Burna Boy (Nigeria) – Fally Ipupa (DRC) – Musa Keys (South Africa) – The Compozers (Ghana) – Wizkid (Nigeria) – Yemi Alade (Nigeria) | Fally Ipupa (DRC) |
| Best Dancer | – Robot Boii (South Africa) – Tayc (France) – Uganda Ghetto Kids (Uganda) – Yemi Alade (Nigeria) – Zuchu (Tanzania) | Robot Boii (South Africa) |
| Best Artist Africa – Francophone | – Didi B (Ivory Coast) – Emma’a (Gabon) – Fally Ipupa (DRC) – KO-C (Cameroon) – Locko (Cameroon) – Serge Beynaud (Ivory Coast) – Viviane Chidid (Senegal) | Didi B (Ivory Coast) |
| Best Artist Africa – Anglophone | – Asake (Nigeria) – Ayra Starr (Nigeria) – Black Sherif (Ghana) – Davido (Nigeria) – Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) | Asake (Nigeria) |
| Best Artist Africa – Lusophone | – Gerilson Insrael (Angola) – Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde) – Perola (Angola) – Plutonio (Mozambique) – Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde) | Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde) |
| Best Artist – Rwanda | – Ariel Wayz (Rwanda) – Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) – Bwiza (Rwanda) – Chriss Eazy (Rwanda) – Kenny Sol (Rwanda) | Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) |
| Best Artist – East Africa | – Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) – Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – Zuchu (Tanzania) – Khaligraph (Kenya) – Nadia Mukani (Kenya) – Azawi (Uganda) | Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) |
| Best Artist – France & Belgium | – Aya Nakamura (France) – Booba (France) – Nihno (France) – Ronisia (France) – Soolking (France) – Tayc (France) | Tayc (France) |
| Best Artist – UK | – Central Cee (UK) – Headie One (UK) – Ms Banks (UK) – Raye (UK) – Stormzy (UK) | Central Cee (UK) |
| Best Artist – The Caribbean | – Admiral T (Guadeloupe) – Bamby (French Guiana) – Kalash (Martinique) – Maureen (Martinique) – Popcaan (Jamaica) – Princess Lover (Martinique) – Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti) – Shenseea (Jamaica) | Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti) |
| Best Artist – Indian Ocean | – Donovan BTS (Mauritius) – GaEi (Madagascar) – Goulam (Comoros) – Mik’l (Reunion) – Sega el (Reunion) – Terrell Elymoor (Mayotte) | Goulam (Comoros) |
| Best Artist – Brazil | – Djonga (Brazil) – Iza (Brazil) – Leo Santana (Brazil) – Ludmilla (Brazil) – Luedji Luna (Brazil) | Ludmilla (Brazil) |
| Best Artist – North Africa | – Amira Zouhair (Morocco) – Artmasta (Tunisia) – Dystinct (Morocco) – El Grande Toto (Morocco) – Kader Japonais (Algeria) – Raja Meziane (Algeria) | Dystinct (Morocco) |
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