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The award is set to showcase Africa’s excellence and diversity of Afro-centric music in genres such as Afrobeat, Dancehall, Hip Hop, Afro-pop, Mbalax, Amapiano, Zouk, Kizomba, Genge, Coupé Décalé, Bongo Flava, Soukous, Gospel, Rap, Rai, Kompa, R&B, and Rumba.
In an interview with Jozebrain Media Trace TV CEO for West Africa Sam Onyemelukwe stated that the award was inspired by the desire to create an award for Africans by Africans.
The award which will take place on October 21, 2023, in Kigali Rwanda is set to attract creatives from all over the world to engage in a rich cross-cultural pollination in the festival that will take place alongside the award.
Superstars across Africa, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and South America will compete in 22 award categories and winners will take home the unique Trace Awards Trophies designed by acclaimed Congolese sculptor and designer, Dora Prevost.
The nominations are listed below
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)
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) withEd 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)
- “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 Luc Belaire
- Azawi (Uganda)
- Krys M (Cameroon)
- Libianca (Cameroon)
- Nissi (Nigeria)
- Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
- Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
- Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast)
Best Collaboration sponsored by Maison Martell
- “Many Ways” – BNXN (Nigeria) with Wizkid (Nigeria)
- “Mine” – Show Dem Camp (Nigeria) with Oxlade (Nigeria)
- “Peru” – Fireboy DML (Nigeria) withEd Sheeran (UK)
- “Second Sermon” – Black Sherif(Ghana) with Burna Boy (Nigeria)
- “Sete” – K.O (South Africa) withYoung 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 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)
- Tamsir (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 (Nigeria)
- 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 – 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)
- Mikl (Reunion)
- Sega el (Reunion)
- Terell 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)
- Raja Meziane (Algeria)
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)
- “Work of Art” – Asake (Nigeria)
