Trace Awards & Summit 2025: Africa’s Premier Music Event Lands in Zanzibar
Mark your calendars! The Trace Awards & Summit 2025, the pinnacle of African and diaspora music recognition, will light up Zanzibar on February 26, 2025. This prestigious celebration promises to unite top artists from across the continent and beyond in an unforgettable showcase of talent, diversity, and creativity.
Trace Awards needs your votes!
Starting January 2, 2025, fans worldwide can vote for their favorite artists at www.traceawards.plus. Your vote holds incredible power—contributing 50% of the final decision, alongside the expert jury’s input. This is your chance to shape the winners of Africa’s biggest music awards!
🗳️ Voting closes on February 15, 2025, so don’t miss out on supporting your favorite stars. Voting is free, inclusive, and fully compliant with RGPD regulations, making it accessible to everyone.
Celebrating African Musical Excellence and Diversity
The Trace Awards honor the rich tapestry of African music, showcasing genres that continue to influence global sounds. From Afrobeat to amapiano, mbalax to hip-hop, the event spotlights talent across 24 categories. Participating artists hail from 30+ countries, spanning Africa, South America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and Europe.
Featured genres include:
- Afrobeat, amapiano, Afro-pop, hip-hop, dancehall, RnB, and rap
- Traditional and contemporary styles like mbalax, kizomba, soukous, raï, and rumba
- Vibrant regional flavors such as bongo flava, coupé-décalé, zouk, genge, and kompa
- Inspirational music like gospel
Why Your Vote Matters
The Trace Awards go beyond celebrating music—they’re a movement amplifying the voices of artists shaping the future of African and global music. By voting, you:
- Help showcase the richness of African culture and creativity.
- Support artists in gaining international recognition.
- Elevate works that inspire cultural pride and identity.
Trace Awards 2025 Nominees and Global Categories
Stay tuned for the official nominee list and explore the incredible talent vying for the spotlight in 2025!
📅 Key Dates to Remember:
- Voting Opens: January 2, 2025
- Voting Closes: February 15, 2025
- Awards Ceremony: February 26, 2025
🌍 Join the conversation and celebrate Africa’s finest at the Trace Awards 2025.
Here’s a tabulated version of the Trace Awards 2025 Nominees:
GLOBAL AWARDS
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| 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 | 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
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| Best Global African Artist | Tyla (South Africa) Tyler ICU (South Africa) Fally Ipupa (DRC) Burna Boy (Nigeria) Asake (Nigeria/USA) Rema (Nigeria) Ayra Starr (Nigeria) Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) |
| Best Male Artist | Dlala Thukzin (South Africa) Fally Ipupa (DRC) 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 | Nkosazana Daughter (South Africa) Himra (Ivory Coast) Sabrina (Cameroon) Mia Guissé (Senegal) Shallipopi (Nigeria) Qing Madi (Nigeria) Abigail Chams (Tanzania) |
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| 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
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| 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 (DRC) 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
| Category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| 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) |
To join in the conversation about the Trace Awards & Summit, use the hashtags: #TraceAwardsZanzibar and #TraceSummitZanzibar.
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