The winners of the 2023 Trace Awards have finally been announced at the prestigious awards ceremony, which took place in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 21st.
The top winners of the 2023 Trace Awards were Rema and Davido, who were announced on Saturday, October 21, in Kigali, Rwanda. Global TV and multimedia platform Trace has launched a new award series called the Trace Awards.
Recognizing musicians with African and Afro-influenced influences is the aim of the awards.
With his worldwide hit song “Calm Down,” Rema received song of the year. On the Billboard Hot 100, a remix of the song featuring Selena Gomez peaked at number three. Additionally, the Nigerian celebrity received the best worldwide African artist award (tying with Nomcebo).
Two more awards were given to Davido: Best Male and Best Cooperation. With his collaboration with South African artist Musa Keys, “Unavailable,” he took home the latter honor.
Album of the Year went to Nigerian Burna Boy for Love Damini. About fifty international musicians with African and Afro-inspired influences, such as Davido, Yemi Alade, Mr. Eazi, and Diamond Platnumz, performed at the Trace Awards.
Tonight has been a magnificent exhibition of the force and originality of African and African-origin musicians, according to a statement from Trace chairman and co-founder Olivier Laouchez.
African current music has become a global phenomenon, and this was highlighted by all of the candidates and performers at the Trace Awards.
In the last year, African music has gained recognition at a number of additional award events. At the American Music Awards in November 2022, Wizkid became the first-ever favorite Afrobeats artist.
The first-ever winner of Best Afrobeats at the MTV Video Awards in September was “Calm Down,” featuring Rema and Selena Gomez. On November 10, the first-ever Grammy Award nominees for greatest African music performance will be unveiled.
Three categories were declared without nominees, and prizes were given in addition to the competitive categories listed below.
These included the aforementioned Best Global African Artist award going to Rema and Nomcebo, a Change Maker award going to Mr. Eazi (also from Nigeria) for his charitable endeavors, and a lifetime achievement award going to 2Face of Nigeria.
Here is the full list of winners for the 2023 Trace Awards.
Best Male
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) FT Serena Gomez – 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 Belaire
Azawi (Uganda)
Krys M (Cameroon)
Libianca (Cameroon)
Nissi (Nigeria)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast) – 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)
Best Artist: UK
Headie One (UK)
Ms Banks (UK)
Stormzy (UK)
Raye (UK)
Best Artist: 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) – WIINNER
Mikl (Reunion)
Sega el (Reunion)
Terell 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)
“DNK”- Aya Nakamura (France)
Best Artist: East Africa
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – WINNER
Zuchu (Tanzania)
Khaligraph (Kenya)
Nadia Mukani (Kenya)
Azawi (Uganda)
Album of the Year
“Love Damini” – Burna Boy (Nigeria) – WINNER
“Maverick” – Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
“More Love, Less Ego” – Wizkid (Nigeria)
“Timeless” – Davido (Nigeria)
“Work of Art” – Asake (Nigeria)
Best Collaboration
“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 Star(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)
Tam Sir (Ivory Coast) – WINNER
Benjamin Dube (South Africa)
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 (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: 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 sponsored by Kiss FM
Ariel Wayz (Rwanda)
Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) – WINNER
Bwiza (Rwanda)
Chriss Eazy (Rwanda)
Kenny Sol (Rwanda)
Best Artist: France and Belgium
Aya Nakamura (France)
Booba (France)
Nihno (France)
Ronisia (France)
Soolking (France)
Tayc (France) – WINNER
Best Artist: UK
Central Cee – WINNER
Headie One (UK)
Ms Banks (UK)
Raye (UK)
Stormzy (UK)
Best Global Africa Artist ( By Voting): Rema WINNER
The Trace Awards included performances by approximately 50 African and Afro-inspired artists from around the world, including Davido, Yemi Alade, Mr. Eazi, and Diamond Platnumz.
The Trace Awards are a new award franchise created by Trace, a global TV and multimedia platform. The purpose of the awards is to recognize African and Afro-influenced musicians from Africa and around the African diaspora.
Content courtesy of Not Just Ok, Billboard & NFH Digital Team
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