Full List of Inaugural Trace Awards Winners

In a spectacular celebration of African and Afro-inspired music and artists, the inaugural Trace Awards, held in Kigali, Rwanda on October 21, 2023, witnessed Nigerian music stars Davido and Rema shining brightly as they clinched several prestigious awards.

The Trace Awards aims to honor the creativity, talent, and influence of African and Afro-inspired musicians, and the ceremony showcased the best talents from the continent.

Rema, the rising star, took home the coveted ‘Song of the Year’ award for his hit track ‘Calm Down.’ The ‘Best Global African Artiste’ award saw an exciting tie between the Nigerian sensation and Nomcebo.

Meanwhile, Davido proved his mettle by securing the titles of ‘Best Male’ and ‘Best Collaboration.’ His compatriot Burna Boy walked away with the prestigious ‘Album of the Year’ award.

The awards ceremony was graced by the presence of Nigerian singer D’Banj and Angolan global supermodel Maria Borges as the hosts.

Here is the complete list of winners for the 2023 Trace Awards:

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)

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)

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)

Best Male

• Asake (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Davido (Nigeria)
• 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)

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 Newcomer

• Azawi (Uganda)
• Krys M (Cameroon)
• Libianca (Cameroon)
• Nissi (Nigeria)
• Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
• Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
• 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)

Best Producer

• DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
• Juls (Ghana)
• Kabza de Small (South Africa)
• Kel-P (Nigeria)
• Tam Sir (Ivory Coast)

Best Gospel Artist

• Benjamin Dube (South Africa)
• Janet Otieno (Kenya)
• KS Bloom (Ivory Coast)
• Levixone (Uganda)
• Moses Bliss (Nigeria)

Best Live

• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Fally Ipupa (DRC)
• Musa Keys (South Africa)
• The Compozers (Ghana)
• Wizkid (Nigeria)
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best Dancer

• Robot Boii (South Africa)
• Tayc (France)
• Uganda Ghetto Kids (Uganda)
• Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
• Zuchu (Tanzania)

Best Artist Africa – Anglophone

• Asake (Nigeria)
• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Black Sherif (Ghana)
• Davido (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Fireboy DML (Nigeria)

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)

Best Artist Africa – Lusophone

• Gerilson Insrael (Angola)
• Lisandro Cuxi (Cape Verde)
• Perola (Angola)
• Plutonio (Mozambique)
• Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)

Best Artist – Rwanda

• Ariel Wayz (Rwanda)
• Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
• Bwiza (Rwanda)
• Chriss Eazy (Rwanda)
• Kenny Sol (Rwanda)

Best Artist – East Africa

• Bruce Melodie (Rwanda)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Zuchu (Tanzania)
• Khaligraph (Kenya)
• Nadia Mukani (Kenya)
• Azawi (Uganda)

Best Artist – France & Belgium

• Aya Nakamura (France)
• Booba (France)
• Nihno (France)
• Ronisia (France)
• Soolking (France)
• Tayc (France)
• Best Artist – UK
  • Central Cee (UK)
  • Headie One (UK)
  • Ms Banks (UK)
  • Raye (UK)
  • Stormzy (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)

  Best Artist – Indian Ocean

  • Donovan BTS (Mauritius)
  • GaEi (Madagascar)
  • Goulam (Comoros)
  • Mik’l (Reunion)
  • Sega el (Reunion)
  • Terrell Elymoor (Mayotte)

  Best Artist – Brazil

  • Djonga (Brazil)
  • Iza (Brazil)
  • Leo Santana (Brazil)
  • Ludmilla (Brazil)
  • Luedji Luna (Brazil)

  Best Artist – North Africa

  • Amira Zouhair (Morocco)
  • Artmasta (Tunisia)
  • Dystinct (Morocco)
  • El Grande Toto (Morocco)
  • Kader Japonais (Algeria)