The 2023 Trace Awards, hosted in Kigali, Rwanda, crowned Rema and Davido as the biggest winners of the event, reaffirming their status as musical powerhouses in the African and Afro-influenced music scene.
Introduced by the globally renowned multimedia platform Trace, the awards sought to recognize exceptional African and Afro-influenced musicians across the African continent and its diasporas.
Rema, the rising star, secured two prestigious awards. He claimed the coveted “Song of the Year” award for his chart-topping hit “Calm Down” and jointly received the “Best Global African Artist” award with Nomcebo. Notably, his collaboration with Selena Gomez on a remix of “Calm Down” had reached the impressive position of No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Davido, a recognized name in the industry, also had a triumphant night. He was celebrated as the “Best Male Artist” and was honored with the “Best Collaboration” award for his work on “Unavailable” with Musa Keys.
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Furthermore, Burna Boy was honored with the album of the year award for his album āLove Damini.ā The event featured electrifying performances by approximately 50 African and Afro-inspired artists, including Yemi Alade, Mr Eazi, ODUMODUBLVCK and Diamond Platnumz.
Notably, three special awards were presented, with 2Face receiving a lifetime achievement award, Mr Eazi being acknowledged with the Change Maker award, and the best Global African artist award being shared by Rema and Nomcebo.
Here are the list
Album of the Year
DNK ā Aya Nakamura (France)
WINNER: Love Damini ā Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Maverick ā Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
More Love, Less Ego ā Wizkid (Nigeria)
Timeless ā Davido (Nigeria)
Work of Art ā Asake (Nigeria)
Song of the Year
āBKBNā ā Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
āPeopleā ā Libianca (Cameroon)
āSuavementeā ā Soolking (France)
āEncreā ā Emmaāa (Gabon)
āSugarcaneā ā Camidoh (Ghana)
āLast Lastā ā Burna Boy (Nigeria)
āRushā ā Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
WINNER: āCalm Downā ā Rema (Nigeria)
āPeruā ā Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (UK)
āSeteā ā K.O (South Africa)
āCoughā ā Kizz Daniel (Nigeria)
āMORTEL 06ā ā InnossāB (DRC)
Best Music Video
ā2 Sugarā ā Wizkid (Nigeria) feat. Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
WINNER: āBaddieā ā Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
āKpaflotageā ā Suspect 95 (Ivory Coast)
āLoadedā ā Tiwa Savage(Nigeria) & Asake (Nigeria)
āRondaā ā Blxckie (South Africa)
āTomboloā ā Kalash (Martinique)
WINNER: āUnavailableā ā Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (South Africa)
Best Newcomer
Azawi (Uganda)
Krys M (Cameroon)
Libianca (Cameroon)
Nissi (Nigeria)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
WINNER: Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast)
Best DJ
Danni Gato (Cape Verde)
DJ BDK (Ivory Coast)
DJ Illans (France)
DJ Spinall (Nigeria)
WINNER: Michael Brun (Haiti)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best Producer
DJ Maphorisa (South Africa)
Juls (Ghana)
Kabza de Small (South Africa)
Kel-P (Nigeria)
WINNER: Tam Sir (Ivory Coast)
Yatapitaā ā Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Best Male
Asake (Nigeria)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
WINNER: 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)
WINNER: Viviane Chidid (Senegal)
Best Collaboration
āMany Waysā ā BNXN (Nigeria) with Wizkid (Nigeria)
āMineā ā Show Dem Camp (Nigeria) with Oxlade (Nigeria)
āPeruā ā Fireboy DML (Nigeria) with Ed Sheeran (UK)
āSecond Sermonā ā Black Sherif (Ghana) with Burna Boy (Nigeria)
āSeteā ā K.O (South Africa) with Young Stunna (South Africa), Blxckie (South Africa)
āStaminaā ā Tiwa Savage with Ayra Starr (Nigeria) & Young Jonn (Nigeria)
āTrumpetā ā Olamide (Nigeria) with Ckay (Nigeria)
WINNER: āUnavailableā ā Davido (Nigeria) with Musa Keys (South Africa)
Best Newcomer
Azawi (Uganda)
Krys M (Cameroon)
Libianca (Cameroon)
Nissi (Nigeria)
Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
WINNER: Roseline Layo (Ivory Coast)
Burna Boy (Nigeria)
WINNER: Fally Ipupa (DRC)
Musa Keys (South Africa)
The Compozers (Ghana)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best Dancer
WINNER: Robot Boii (South Africa)
Tayc (France)
Uganda Ghetto Kids (Uganda)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Zuchu (Tanzania)
Best Artist Africa ā Anglophone
WINNER: Asake (Nigeria)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Davido (Nigeria)