The Trace Awards & Summit 2025, the most prestigious musical event on the African continent, is set to electrify Zanzibar.

The Trace Awards ceremony, taking place on February 26, 2025, will bring together the continent’s and diaspora’s greatest talents. Trace invites fans worldwide to actively participate by voting for their favourite artists.

Voting¹ will officially open on January 2 at www.traceawards.plus.

Music fans, it’s your time to act! Your vote accounts for 50% of the final decision and can make the difference in choosing the winners. The other half results from the votes of an expert jury.

A Celebration of African Musical Diversity

Africa is home to many musical styles that profoundly influence contemporary sounds worldwide.

The Trace Awards highlight the richness and excellence of Afro music through genres such as Afrobeat, dancehall, hip-hop, Afro-pop, mbalax, amapiano, zouk, kizomba, genge, coupé-décalé, bongo flava, soukous, gospel, rap, raï, kompa, RnB, and rumba. Artists from over 30 countries in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and Europe are competing in 24 categories.

Why Vote?

The Trace Awards are more than just an event; they are a platform dedicated to recognizing artists who shape the future of African and international music. By voting, fans can amplify the voices of their favorite artists both on the continent and internationally and support works that reflect their identity and cultural pride.

Voting closes on February 15, 2025.

Voting is free, accessible to all, and fully compliant with RGPD regulations.

Nominees for 2025

Global Awards (7)

• 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 for Rema “DND” (Nigeria), TG Omori for Kizz Daniel & Davido “Twe Twe” (Nigeria), Director Folex for Zuchu feat Innoss’ B “Nani” (Remix) (Tanzania/DRC), Nabil Elderkin for Tyla “Jump” (South Africa), Kmane for Ayra Starr “Commas” (Nigeria), Seoute Emmanuel for Toofan “C Pas Normal” (Togo), Ach’B for Innoss’ B “Sete” (DRC), Edgar Esteves for 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 (7)

• 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 (6)

• 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 (4)

• 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).

For press inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, and more information, please contact: awards@trace.plus

To join in the conversation about the Trace Awards & Summit, use the hashtags: #TraceAwardsZanzibar and #TraceSummitZanzibar.

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