Trace Awards 2023 Nominees List Unveiled

Trace Awards has revealed the 2023 nominees for the Trace Awards in Africa, a live event and global TV spectacular that celebrates the creativity, talent, and influence of African and Afro-inspired music and artists.

The event will take place live on 21 October 2023 at the BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda. This year’s Trace  Awards and Festival is presented by Visit Rwanda and Martell.

Trace Awards 2023 Nominees List

Below is a list of Trace Awards 2023 nominees by category;

1. Best Male

• Asake (Nigeria)
• Burna Boy (Nigeria)
• Davido (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
• Didi B (Ivory Coast)
• K.O (South Africa)
• Rema (Nigeria)

2. Best Female

• Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
• Josey (Ivory Coast)
• Nadia Mukami (Kenya)
• Soraia Ramos (Cape Verde)
• Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
• Viviane Chidid (Senegal)

3. 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 (Ivory Coast)

4. 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)

5. Best Newcomer sponsored by Martell

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

6. Best Collaboration sponsored by Martell

• “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)

7. Best DJ

• Danni Gato (Cape Verde)
• DJ BDK (Ivory Coast)
• DJ Illans (France)
• DJ Spinall (Nigeria)
• Michael Brun (Haiti)
• Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)

8. Best Producer

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

9. Best Gospel Artist

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

10. Best Live

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

11. Best Dancer

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

12. Best Artist Africa – Anglophone

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

13. 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)

14. Best Artist Africa – Lusophone

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

15. Best Artist – Rwanda

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

16. Best Artist – France & Belgium

• Aya Nakamura (France)
• Booba (France)
• Nihno (France)
• Ronisia (France)
• Soolking (France)
• Tayc (France)

17. Best Artist – UK

• Central Cee (UK)
• Headie One (UK)
• Ms Banks (UK)
• Raye (UK)
• Stormzy (UK)

18. Best Artist – The Caribbean

• Admiral T (Guadeloupe)
• Bamby (French Guiana)
• Kalash (Martinique)
• Maureen (Martinique)
• Popcaan (Jamaica)
• Princess Lover (Martinique)
• Rutshelle Guillaume (Haiti)
• Shenseea (Jamaica)

19. Best Artist – Indian Ocean

• Donovan BTS (Mauritius)
• GaEi (Madagascar)
• Goulam (Comoros)
• Mikl (Reunion)
• Sega el (Reunion)
• Terell Elymoor (Mayotte)

20. Best Artist – Brazil

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

21. Best Artist – North Africa

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

22. 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)

Trace Awards will broadcast live on 21 October 2023 on Trace TV, radio, and digital channels and on global streaming platforms, national terrestrial TV and satellite channels. The viewership and social interaction is expected to exceed 500 million fans in 190 countries.

Rwandan creativity and excellence are represented by the involvement of BK Arena, RwandAir and RBA as partners to the Trace Awards & Festival.

Voting goes live Monday 21 August 2023 at 18H00 CEST at.

To vote, visit: https://trace.plus