Trace Awards & Festival 2023 Winners Full List

Posted on October 21, 2023October 23, 2023 by Oscar Alochi

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

Mtn Nyege Nyege Festival Wins Best Overal Tourism Event of the Year 2018 at the Ekkula Pearl of Tourism Awards

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Oscar Alochi

Since its inception in 2015, Nyege Nyege International Music Festival has never diverted from its mission: To shine light on East Africa’s growing pool of artistic talents and to make Uganda the host of the most exciting music festival on the planet. In 2018 it attracted over 3,000 tourists, making Uganda the premier music travel destination on the continent.

Life time experience at Nyege Nyege Village

Featured on every major music publication in the world, including the The Guardian, CNN, BBC, Rolling Stone and The Economist, Nyege Nyege is now a global phenomenon. And to top it off last Friday at the Ekkula Pearl of Africa Tourism Awards it was recognized as the “Best Overall Tourism Event in Uganda 2018”.

Together with the Government of Uganda, it has promised to leverage this prestigious award and grow the festival industry to attract more positive press and visitors to Uganda. Tourism relies on competitive advantages, and while Uganda is on par with other regional players when it comes to Nature and Wildlife, it is the hospitality of its people and the diversity and richness of its culture that will set it apart in the future.

The organizers have dedicated their award to the late Ambassador Julius Onen, who hosted the festival at Nile Discovery Beach since its inception. Ambassador Onen was a very fervent supporter of the festival and of culture in general, and he will be greatly missed. The organizers have promised to continue to fulfil his vision of a prosperous Uganda known for its culture, beauty and hospitality.

Audience enjoying live music performed by local bands

The city of Jinja and the community of Njeru have greatly benefited from the festival. Since it became MTN Nyege Nyege in 2017 the festival has grown to nearly 10,000 attendees and this has brought a tremendous boost in the local economy. From casual workers to hotel owners, from rolex sellers to restaurant owners, artists, crafts sellers, cab drivers and other local entrepreneurs, everyone benefits from MTN Nyege Nyege.

During the festival alone over 250 vendors reported profits from the festival. The festival has made a commitment to contribute to host community of the festival, and year on year people have shared amazing stories of how they were able to buy a plot of land or send their kids to university after the festival, every single hotel is fully booked during the festival and the city of Jinja has witnessed a twenty fold increase in business during the time of the festival.

Interaction at Nyege Nyege festival

A music festival is synonymous with peace, hospitality, culture and fun, and by becoming a globally recognized festival, Uganda is now constantly associated with all those positive elements in the international press, which directly affects the image of Uganda and the amount of visiting tourists. Many festival attendees elect to spend more time in Uganda, visiting national parks, and staying in beautiful lodges.

After receiving the award, Talent Africa’s CEO Aly Allibhai has vowed to continue to use his resources as the premier event management & production company in the country, to support the vision of the Nyege Nyege founders, and continue to strive to make this the best festival in the world.

Talent Africa’s CEO Aly Allibhai at the Middle

The festival has also announced that it would work more closely with the Ugandan Government in order to communicate better on its purpose and avoid any confusion with regards to false statements that have tried to bring the event down last year.

The Festival believes that it needs to work together with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to guarantee a quality experience for all foreign visitors as well as Ugandan and East African audiences.

Since its inception the festival has pushed for more regional tourism, and last year alone it attracted over 800 Kenyans and 300 Rwandese, many of whom had never come to Uganda in the past. Regional weekend getaways are becoming a trend in regional tourism, but most people tend to go to the coast of Tanzania or Kenya.

MTN Nyege Nyege wants to reverse this trend and encourage people across the region to visit Uganda more often.

Promoting art and culture

This year MTN Nyege Nyege is partnering with European, American, Asian and African tour operators in order to reach out to new markets. Requests have poured in from artists all over the continent to attend, and by continuing to propose a Pan African line up, the festival directly advertises in new African countries.

Last year, under the MTN Pulse program, MTN invited 20 Ghanian taste makers to Uganda to experience the festival, as a result the festival expects an influx of Ghanian visitors.

By promoting traditional music and other cultural practices from the four corners of Uganda, the festival is able to highlight the cultural diversity of Uganda, something unique to the Pearl of Africa.

It creates pride amongst Uganda that cuts across tribal differences and promotes unity through diversity.

African Music

MTN Nyege Nyege is also at the forefront of national tourism, by introducing camping culture to Ugandan audiences (1500 Ugandans camped at the last edition) it opens up a whole new market to budget travellers, and encourages Ugandans to visit Uganda!

According to recent studies, Music Festival tourism is the fastest growing segment of the global tourism industry, doubling over the last 3 years to a 4 billion dollar industry. Facts show that more people travel further to gain new experiences and attend music festivals, Nyege Nyege intends to bring a bigger chunk of that market to Uganda.

The dates for the 2019 edition of MTN Nyege Nyege will be confirmed in the coming weeks. Tickets are expected to go on sale from the beginning of May.

Live performance

To celebrate the Ekkula Tourism Award, MTN Nyege Nyege Festival will throw a celebratory party on April 19ththemed with a Full Moon party experience at the View Kampala located above Hotel Diplomat in Tank Hill, Muyenga.

About Nyege Nyege Music Festival

MTN Nyege Nyege International Music Festival was started in 2015 by the Boutiq Electroniq collective, namely Kampire Bahana, Arlen Dilsizian, Derrick Debru and Darlyne Komukama.

In 2016 it joined forces with Talent Africa and its state of the art event management & production expertise lead by event guru Aly Allibhai, creating a festival production dream team.

On the back of the reputation of Talent Africa, Nyege Nyege was able to attract initial sponsorship from Brussels Airlines and Bell lager, and in 2018 MTN signed a 3 year title sponsorship agreement to give the festival an additional opportunity to grow.

The festival is part of a larger talent incubation project that includes community studios in Bunga open to young talents, access to production infrastructure, training in production and music software as well as DJing and recording of traditional troupes to encourage cultural preservation. The music produced is made available on two internationally acclaimed labels, namely Nyege Nyege tapes and Hakuna Kulala.

Finally, Nyege Nyege represents 20+ Ugandan and East African artists around the world, creating substantial income through their performances.

DJ Kampire will make her US debut as the closing act of the New York Red Bull Music Festival on May 16th.

Content courtesy of Talent Africa Group & Nairobi fashion hub

Sheebah Karungi

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Oscar Alochi

Sheebah Karungi aka Queen Sheebah born November 11, 1989 in Ugandan she is a recording artist, dancer and actress debuting her acting career in Queen of Katwe as Shakira. After quitting Obsessions, a dance group she joined in 2006, she rose to recognition upon the release of her hit single titled “Ice Cream”.

In 2014, she released her debut project Ice Cream, a five-track EP which did well commercially and further led her to win back-to-back HiPipo Music Awards Best Female Artist in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. She also won the Artist of the Year award twice, in 2017 and 2018, at the HiPipo Music Awards. Sheebah has also represented uganda at coke studios africa twice.

Life and career

Sheebah Karungi was born and raised by a single mother in Kawempe, a division of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. After completing her basic education at Kawempe Muslim Primary School, she dropped out of school in senior two when she was a student of Midland High School, Kawempe.

At the age of 15, she started dancing for money after she joined a dance group called Stingers before she left the group for Obsessions Music Group in 2006. At Obsessions she developed an interest in music, recording two songs before she left the group for a solo career in music.

In 2010, she released “Kunyenyenza”, her first official single, produced by Washington with writing credit from Cindy. She went on to release another song titled “Bulikyekola”, featuring vocals from KS Alpha and then “Baliwa” featuring Coco Finger.

It was until she released “Automatic”, a song written by Sizzaman, that her solo career experienced a major turnaround. Upon the success of “Automatic”, she teamed up again with Sizzaman to release “Ice Cream” to massive airplay and positive reviews before she went on to release another hit single, “Twesana”.

In 2014, she released her first musical project, Ice Cream, a five-track EP which contained hit singles including “Ice Cream” and “Jordan”. The EP was well received and helped win her Best Female Artist at the 2014 and 2015 HiPipo Music Awards.

Content courtesy of Sheebah Karungi & Nairobi fashion hub

Tag: Music Festival