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 MaleBurna Boy (Nigeria)Davido (Nigeria) – WINNERDiamond Platnumz (Tanzania) Didi B (Ivory Coast) K.O (South Africa) Rema (Nigeria)
Best FemaleAyra 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 BelaireAzawi (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: UKHeadie One (UK) Ms Banks (UK) Stormzy (UK) Raye (UK)
Best Artist: CaribbeanAdmiral T (Guadeloupe) Bamby (French Guiana) Kalash (Martinique) Maureen (Martinique) Popcaan (Jamaica) Princess Lover (Martinique)Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti) – WINNERShenseea (Jamaica)
Best Artist: Indian OceanDonovan BTS (Mauritius) GaEi (Madagascar)Goulam (Comoros) – WIINNERMikl (Reunion) Sega el (Reunion) Terell Elymoor (Mayotte)
Best Artist: BrazilDjonga (Brazil) Iza (Brazil) Leo Santana (Brazil)Ludmilla (Brazil) – WINNERLuedji Luna (Brazil)
Best Artist: North AfricaAmira Zouhair (Morocco) Artmasta (Tunisia)Dystinct (Morocco) – WINNEREl Grande Toto (Morocco) Kader Japonais (Algeria) Raja Meziane (Algeria) “DNK”- Aya Nakamura (France)
Best Artist: East AfricaBruce Melodie (Rwanda)Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) – WINNERZuchu (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 DJDanni Gato (Cape Verde) DJ BDK (Ivory Coast) DJ Illans (France) DJ Spinall (Nigeria)Michael Brun (Haiti) – WINNERUncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best ProducerDJ Maphorisa (South Africa) Juls (Ghana) Kabza de Small (South Africa) Kel-P (Nigeria)Tam Sir (Ivory Coast) – WINNERBenjamin Dube (South Africa)
Best Gospel ArtistBenjamin Dube (South Africa) Janet Otieno (Kenya)KS Bloom (Ivory Coast) – WINNERLevixone (Uganda) Moses Bliss (Nigeria)
Best LiveBurna Boy (Nigeria)Fally Ipupa (DRC) – WINNERMusa Keys (South Africa) The Compozers (Nigeria) Wizkid (Nigeria) Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best DancerRobot Boii (South Africa) – WINNERTayc (France) Uganda Ghetto Kids (Uganda) Yemi Alade (Nigeria) Zuchu (Tanzania)
Best Artist Africa: AnglophoneAsake (Nigeria) – WINNERAyra Starr (Nigeria) Black Sherif (Ghana) Davido (Nigeria) Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) Fireboy DML (Nigeria)
Best Artist Africa: FrancophoneDidi B – Ivory Coast – WINNEREmma’a (Gabon) Fally Ipupa (DRC) KO-C (Cameroon) Locko (Cameroon) Serge Beynaud (Ivory Coast) Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
Best Artist Africa: LusophoneGerilson Insrael (Angola)Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde) – WINNERPerola (Angola) Plutonio (Mozambique) Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
Best Artist: Rwanda sponsored by Kiss FMAriel Wayz (Rwanda)Bruce Melodie (Rwanda) – WINNERBwiza (Rwanda) Chriss Eazy (Rwanda) Kenny Sol (Rwanda)
Best Artist: France and BelgiumAya Nakamura (France) Booba (France) Nihno (France) Ronisia (France) Soolking (France)Tayc (France) – WINNER
Best Artist: UKCentral Cee – WINNERHeadie 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